New Organization Threatens 2nd Amendment Rights
Updated: Oct 28, 2020
“At U of M they banned all weapons and the courts deemed that constitutional, so we have no reason not to also do the same thing.”
Author: Brianna Saroli
On February 13, Students Against Gun Violence (SAGV), a new organization at MSU, held their first meeting regarding gun control and gun violence.
Their goal is to focus on “educating students on mass shootings,” as well as LGBT gun violence, accidental gun violence, and domestic and intersectionality gun violence.
The president of SAGV, Ellie Lancaster, said she wants to “educate our community and our peers about safer gun policies, and how to talk about these things.”
The group’s agenda is to better understand federal and state gun policies, as well as campus gun policies.
SAGV hopes to partake in protests, activism, and lobbying to reach goals, Lancaster said. The group hopes to combine their efforts with statewide and regional groups like Michigan Coalition to Prevent Gun Violence, the Grand Rapids Chapter of March for our Lives, and Students Demand Action from Oakland and Macomb counties.
At the meeting, MSU’s gun policies were referenced as strict.
Current policy states: “Michigan law expressly prohibits concealed handgun license holders from carrying on or in a dormitory or classroom of a community college, college, or university.” See Mich. Comp. Laws § 750.237a(1)(h).
“Michigan State University Board of Trustees does allow visitors to carry licensed concealed firearms on university property, except inside dormitories and classrooms.”
However, Lancaster articulated her concern, “MSU has some gun policies that I don’t necessarily agree with,” and her desire to change them.
At the University of Michigan, the school incorporated a different policy: banning all weapons at all times. This is the ultimate goal of SAGV’s chapter at MSU.
Lancaster stated, “at U of M they banned all weapons and the courts deemed that constitutional, so we have no reason not to also do the same thing.”
The president of the College Republicans at MSU, Aleks Oslapas told The Morning Watch, “I think it’s wrong, the universities don’t get to govern their campuses as independent areas. University of Michigan has a history of disobeying the courts. The legislature needs to either punish the university for this or force a change.”
The Morning Watch reached out to the MSU College Democrats but did not receive comment in time for publication.
Contributor Brianna Saroli