The INDsider -> Leslie Turk WED, MAY 13 4:07AM by Leslie Turk

Couillons on da loose: House committee OKs campus guns

Just what a state with the highest gun death rate in the country needs: college kids toting concealed weapons. How about a drunk college kid with a gun? On a Saturday during football season at LSU where there could easily be 100,000 people? It made sense to nine legislators, even our senator-elect (great start, sen). Hell, the governor is now supporting it as well.

The state's House Criminal Justice Committee voted 9-6 for Republican state Rep. Ernest Wooton of Belle Chasse's absurd bill Tuesday. It's now headed to the floor of the House, where it is likely to face quick death. A former sheriff (mind-boggling, I know), Wooton proposed the same bill last year and got it past the criminal justice committee in an 11-3 vote. It died on the House floor.

The nine couillons voting for HB27 were: (of course) Reps. Wooton; Josephy Lopinto, R-Metairie; Damon Baldone, D-Houma; Gregory Ernst, R-New Orleans; Elbert Guillory , D-Opelousas; Chris Hazel, R-Pineville; Gary Smith, D-Norco; Bodi White, R-Central; and Ricky Templet, R-Gretna.

Wiser minds opposing the bill were Reps. Barbara Norton, D-Shreveport; Roy Burrell, D-Shreveport; Mickey Guillory, D-Eunice; Frankie Howard, R-Many; Jonathan Perry, R-Abbeville; and John Schroder, R-Covington.

The Advocate reported today that college officials and many students — donning “Funds Not Guns” T-shirts — opposed the bill, arguing it would make college campuses more dangerous.

Duh.

As you might imagine, colleges are gun-free zones in every state, with one exception: Utah.

Read The Advocate story here.

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written by Packing Heat , May 13, 2009 - 03:19 pm

2 places where shootings happen often, guns and post offices. Why? Because guns aren't allowed there.

There's already a law saying don't kill people. Will making one saying don't do it at school stop someone? More laws is not the answer, tougher punishment is.

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written by JP , May 13, 2009 - 04:20 pm

"Packing Heat," it seems that most school shooters kill themselves. And how much tougher can you get in punishment than the death penalty?

I hope this ridiculous bill dies a miserable death. The thought of a bunch of frat boys carrying around concealed weapons is scary.

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written by Only3togo... , May 13, 2009 - 05:29 pm

I hope wiser heads prevail. More security on campus, I can support. Guns on campus could result in more murders and suicides. I don't like the idea of sending my children to university with a bunch of impulsive young people who might be packing. And that's considering before those young people are chemically enhanced.

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written by Phil , May 13, 2009 - 11:36 pm

This is RS 40:1379.3
http://www.legis.state.la.us/l...doc=97451

Read the law before you jump to conclusions. College students under the age of 21 cannot carry concealed. That means only college seniors for the most part could carry. This law specifically excludes whackadoos.

The only issue I have with the concealed carry is that an honorably discharged Armed Forces member should be allowed even if under age of 21. If you could trust them to carry a fully auto weapon in Iraq or Afganistan or elsewhere, you can't trust them on campus, using their GI bill for education?

The key problem in the active shooter scenario is for the police to distinguish friend from foe. Require that concealed carry holders work with campus and local police in training, so that the police can easily identify the good guys by working with them.

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written by AReese , May 14, 2009 - 01:17 pm

It is currently against the law to conceal a weapon while intoxicated. This rule applies to citizens with or without a concealed carry permit.

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written by What else is new , May 14, 2009 - 06:44 pm

"It is currently against the law to conceal a weapon while intoxicated."

It's about time we have a law against everything.

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