As of Oct. 1, concealed handgun permit holders were legally able to have handguns on North Carolina A&T’s campus.
Last week, University Police Chief Glenn Newell issued a memorandum to students, faculty, and staff explaining that A&T will observe the amendment to G.S. 14-269.2 that now authorizes permit holders to transport and/or store their personal handguns in a locked vehicle, in a locked container while traveling or parked on educational property.
The legislative changes were signed into law on July 29 by Gov. Pat McCrory.
Though permit holders are required to keep handguns in a locked container, they are not obligated to notify any campus officials that they will store a weapon in their vehicle, however, if their vehicle is stopped by a police officer, they are required to inform the officer that they are transporting a gun.
“If anyone brings a weapon on campus, they better make certain that they keep the weapon in the vehicle,” Newell said. “The minute that they have a weapon outside their vehicle, it will be a violation of the law and they will be charged.”
Though Newell believes the new amendment will not impact the campus tremendously, some security officers, who are not equipped with firearms unlike university police, do not like the threat of having weapons on campus and are concerned about the safety of the campus community.
“I don’t think it’s a good idea,” said James Poe, a security officer with Lankford Protective Services. Poe served in the military for 20 years and also teaches weapon safety classes. “To me, it makes no sense. I don’t think they should be allowed on campus.”
Some students are also shaken up about the new gun laws, specifically because of the rise of shootings that have occurred in the U.S. and on school grounds.
“Guns being allowed on campus is going to be dangerous,” said Devante Hicks, a senior criminal justice major. “Now that guns are in a closer proximity, students that do want to take that action legally have easier access to those weapons.”
Though the law has been amended, it is still considered a Class I felony if the handgun is removed from the owner’s vehicle. If anyone is caught having a handgun, they will be charged by the university’s police.
To obtain a concealed weapons permit in N.C., a person must be at least 21-years-old, a U.S. citizen, a resident of North Carolina for 30 days preceding the filing of the permit application, and not suffer from a physical or mental disease that could prevent the safe handling of a handgun.
- Karmen Robinson, Editor-in-Chief