Guns on Campus
In state legislatures throughout the U.S. as well as here in Michigan, attempts have been made by state lawmakers to strip institutional leaders and public university governing boards of their authority to regulate weapons on campus. Public university campuses are among the safest environments in American society, in part due to the absence of guns. Nearly every higher education and law enforcement stakeholder group has steadfastly opposed legislation that allows individuals to carry guns on campus. In addition, the autonomy of university governing boards to regulate their campuses, including firearm policy, has repeatedly been upheld by the Michigan courts, most recently in the decisive decision in Wade v. University of Michigan (2007). However, as federal jurisprudence continues to evolve, state universities will continue working with policymakers to make our campuses as safe as possible, especially as federal courts have consistently recognized campuses to be unique places with special obligations and rights.
Policy Action:
- Oppose state legislation that seeks to diminish or eliminate institutional authority to regulate guns on campus.