Flags in Alaska and across the U.S. will remain at half-staff until sunset on Tuesday, October 6, in honor of the victims of last week’s Umpqua Community College shooting in Roseburg, Oregon.
Fairbanks Senator John Coghill says his bill to allow guns on University of Alaska campuses would be a safety mechanism against situations like last week’s tragic event.
Sen. Coghill(R-District B): “Previously I’d introduced Senate Bill 176 and it was relating to the regulation of firearms on the University of Alaska. Basically what we were heading to do was to get concealed-carry to be something that would be required of the University since the Board of Regents has a gun policy that was contrary to our state law and our constitution. So we are trying to fix that and yes the answer is I will probably go ahead and bring that back up.”
Senator Coghill said Alaska’s concealed carry process adds a layer or security to the aim of his bill.
Sen. Coghill(R-District B): “You go through gun safety issues, you go through the management of a gun, how to spot and respond to dangerous circumstances. It’s a little bit higher level of training, you have to tell authorities when you have a concealed-carry. I think both the training and the accountability are huge and would be a huge benefit to the University system.”
He says America does not have a gun problem, but a problem with outlining who can and cannot buy guns such as those with a dangerous agenda or mental illnesses.
After last week’s campus shooting, many Americans are lobbying for increased gun control and assault weapons bans.