Arizona state legislators have redrafted legislation that would allow guns on college campuses, despite Governor Jan Brewer's vetoing of a similar bill earlier this year.
The new bill is just a modified version of the old bill, which Brewer felt was too vague. However, after vetoing it, the governor said she supports "the thoughtful expansion of where firearms should be allowed."
"The actual legislation that does so must be both unambiguous and clear
to protect the Second Amendment rights of lawful gun owners. Senate Bill
1467 [last year's bill to allow guns on campus] is neither," she explained at the time.
Gun-loving Arizona legislators want to allow people to carry firearms on
campus rights of way, like roads, parking lots, and sidewalks. However,
guns would not be permitted inside university buildings -- as long as
the university posts signs saying guns are not permitted and provide gun
owners with a place to securely store their weapons.
According to the Arizona Republic, "Secure storage would likely mean gun lockers inside at least one
entrance of each building so an individual could lock up their gun and
hold onto the key until they retrieve their gun, similar to a locker
offered at gyms. According to a legislative staff report from earlier
this year, gun lockers could cost $100 to $300 each. The universities
and community colleges would likely be expected to foot the bill."
Supporters of the new bill have taken Brewer's concerns about thee previous bill into account (in the previous bill, Brewer says rights of way aren't clearly defined, and the wording could also have applied to K-12 campuses).
The new bill already has the support of the National Rifle Association,
and legislators reportedly have held pre-session meetings with
university and law-enforcement officials.
The bill is expected to be introduced when the new legislative session begins on January 9.
If the bill becomes law, Arizona would be only the fifth state in the entire country to allow guns on college campuses.
