Campus concealed weapons bills debated at Eastern Michigan University panel discussion

“My aunt was murdered by someone with a concealed weapons permit,” she said as her voice began to crack and she fought back tears. “Just because people go through these classes doesn’t mean they won’t kill someone.”

The moment was one of several emotional flares in a panel discussion between proponents and opponents of two bills state lawmakers are considering that would allow students to carry concealed weapons on Michigan’s campuses.

After expressing his regrets for her loss, Coy, an Adrian College accounting professor and volunteer on the National Rifle Association’s Board of Directors, responded: “Bad things are going to happen, but the preponderance of evidence and the preponderance of incidents suggest that concealed firearms are a deterrent,” he said. 

Coy and Paul Leighton, a criminology professor at EMU who opposes the bills, both conceded there were no hard statistics to demonstrate that concealed weapons prevent or promote violence.

When asked point blank how many crimes the roughly 200,000 people with CCW permits in Michigan stopped with their concealed weapons, Coy said the Michigan State Police have no statistics.

Leighton had a similar response when a student pointed out there was no evidence concealed weapons are a source of problems.

“We have an awful lot of problems figuring out the effects as clearly and convincingly as we would like,” he said.

James Simakas, an EMU student, said he had researched the issue and had no problems with concealed firearms on campus.

“Nobody can really establish a harm or benefit, so, given that, what is the harm of having a concealed firearm?” he asked. “I’d like to know why my rights stop at the edge of a campus.”

Introduction of the legislation stems from an incident in which a man brought a gun onto campus and was informed by police that it was against the law.

Under current laws, universities can ban firearms on campus.

Michigan House Bill 5474 strips universities of that right, while Michigan Senate Bill 0747 would lift the ban on guns in a dormitory or university classroom.

The University of Michigan and EMU both have campus-wide regent’s ordinances banning guns.

Leighton said allowing weapons on campus could become an unnecessary distraction in the classroom.

“It’s a basic public safety issue,” he said. “I would say there’s a real concern about how it affects the basic educational environment. When you go to a professor you probably don’t want that professor to have a concealed firearm.”

Panel member Reid Smith, a member of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, countered that allowing concealed firearms on campus makes students safer. “When it comes down to it, you can respond to a crime being committed ... yourself faster than the police can,” he said. “That’s the basis for our support of these laws.” He called the current arrangement in which universities can ban firearms a loophole in the law allowing the public to carry concealed weapons. 

Leighton argued that it wasn’t a loophole, but a common sense exception. He said churches, casinos, hospitals, stadiums also have similar authority to ban guns.

“I think those are rational exceptions that consider public safety,” he said. 

Greg O’Dell, EMU police chief, raised concerns about the impact guns on campus might have on the suicide rate on campus.

He also said that the campus sees a high number of break-ins in its residence halls, and worried about the upshot of adding guns to the mix. “What happens when the target of the theft changes from a laptop to a 9mm?” he said.

Debate also arose on how people would handle themselves in a situation similar to that of the Virginia Tech shootings.

Several audience members questioned whether people advocating for concealed weapons permits truly understand the significance of shooting a human being. 

“I’m a combat vet with the 82nd Airborne, and it’s a whole different thing to use a gun on a person than to use it on pop up targets - it’s a whole different situation,” EMU student Steven Stenman said.

Coy responded that a CCW permit is not for everyone but said sufficient training is provided to those seeking one.

“You need to make that decision - are you willing to take a human life?” he said. “Training is provided. We do the best we can in that regard. Take away this tool, and you are detracting from pubic safety."