Tennessee Lawmakers Say University Students, Campus Workers Can Store Guns In Cars

Students and faculty at state universities could soon be allowed to store guns in their cars parked on campus.

The proposal passed the Tennessee House of Representatives last night and is on its way to the governor.

House Bill 2131 is meant to clarify the so-called “gun-in-trunks” law first approved in 2013.

That measure was supposed to let campus workers keep guns in their cars, although public universities have continued to ban them as a matter policy.

If the latest proposal becomes law, schools could still prevent students and staff from carrying guns on campus, but they wouldn’t be able to punish them if they store weapons in their cars.

State Rep. Courtney Rogers, R-Goodlettsville, sponsored the measure. She said students should be able to defend themselves against thieves and attackers, including mass shooters. During debate on the House floor, Rogers cited the
Kent State shooting, in which National Guardsmen opened fire on protesters, as one that could be prevented if students had been armed. Later, she said she’d misspoken.

“I was trying to think of a name of where there was a mass shooting, and I don’t know why that just … But the point was, if there is a mass shooting that someone can answer it,” said Rogers.

Opponents of the measure said it won’t prevent mass shootings; it’ll instead make them easier.

Administration officials will have no way of knowing, they argued, whether a person has brought a gun on campus for legitimate reasons or to harm others.

“These are younger people. In some cases their brains are still developing. They’re just now learning how to become adults,” said state Rep. Mike Stewart, D-Nashville. “Don’t you think it’s rational for the trustees of these institutions to say, ‘You know, on balance, we don’t actually think it’s a good idea for people to have dangerous firearms on our campus?'”