The Illinois Student Senate is preparing a proposal to present to local police chiefs and University administrators that will draw the boundary of where firearms would be allowed should concealed carry legislation pass in Illinois.
The proposal, being written by student senators Christopher Dayton and Nick Larson, is still in preliminary stages.
“I’d much rather make sure that we can get our voice heard early, put a bug in (legislators’) ears and make sure that we can keep the campus safe for our students and ensure a proper level of communication about this, rather than just crossing our fingers and see what happens,” Dayton said.
The proposal will advocate the creation of a buffer zone of campus, in addition to areas covered by current state law and the student code, in which carrying a concealed weapon would be illegal, depending on how lawmakers regulate concealed carry.
By campus law, student possession of a weapon is illegal on any property controlled or owned by the University.
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Dayton said this buffer zone hasn’t been defined yet, but he said he will have a preliminary plan by the Feb. 6 senate meeting.
He said he does not think weapons are conducive to student life and that introducing weapons to this campus creates an imbalance of power, as most students on campus are not yet of age to own a weapon.
He also said many aspects of campus culture don’t coincide with firearms. He cited an incident that occurred in the 100 block of East John Street on Nov. 4, in which a 22-year-old male reported coming home from a bar and engaging in a physical altercation with his roommate, during which a knife was displayed, and a single shot was fired through his bedroom door.
“If that is not a clear example of what can happen when you mix alcohol and firearms, it can be a very scary prospect as to having potentially more firearms on this campus,” he said.
Larson also said during last week’s senate meeting that because of the high population density, any sort of firearm discharge on campus is an extremely dangerous prospect.
This proposal is being based on a similar resolution, sponsored by Dayton, Larson and senator Damani Bolden, which the student senate passed at last week’s meeting.
Tyler can be reached at [email protected].
