Firearms at schools would put students and state at risk

I remember well my first solo shift as a police officer. I was sitting in my patrol vehicle, enveloped in excitement and equipment. Sig Sauer P220 sidearm, Remington 870 shotgun, Taser, OC pepper spray, and of course, the AR-15 (M-4).

Police officers know each piece of equipment intimately through years of training. Each piece of equipment secured in its proper place. Each piece of equipment, and its use, governed by myriad laws and regulations. Each piece of equipment designed to protect us and the community. Some of the equipment is designed to take a life, if necessary.

When that first solo shift ended, I would immediately enter an alternate reality — one where I was a student, not an officer. It was a reality where I was safe in the classroom, free to expand and challenge my academic and conceptual limits. I entered the police academy at age 19, while at the same time attending the University of Florida. At 19, I don’t think I truly realized how deeply different my two worlds were. At night, I carried a gun and protected the city of Alachua. During the day, I studied at UF.

There is a concept in society, and sometimes in the Legislature, known as deference. Deference is the recognition that decisions are better made with the input, advice and experiences of other stakeholders. It is a concept that suggests, despite the rhetoric, we ought to listen to those who would be most impacted by the policy change, and by those who have special knowledge and perspective on the issue, including our constituents.

This year, the Legislature will again debate allowing guns on campus. The supporters, I suspect, will cast this issue as one demanded by the Second Amendment. The opponents will attempt to sway the hearts and minds of lawmakers through passionate debate, statistics and testimony. My hope is that the Legislature will arrive at the same conclusion as last year by showing the proper deference to those affected, and let the bill die again.

Certainly, our government is empowered to restrict guns on campus. Our federal and state constitutions support this position. The public, and our lawmakers, should not allow the debate over this bill to devolve into a Second Amendment tag line. This bill is about choosing what is right for our state, our professors and our students.

Every Florida university president and university police chief has opposed this bill. Faculty unions and student governments have, as well, among many other parties.

They have spoken about the increased costs on our budgets. They have spoken about obvious mental-health, access-to-firearms and officer-safety issues. They have spoken about a lack of need or desire for the bill. And on, and on, and on…

“I strongly believe that allowing guns on campus would not only negatively affect overall campus and student safety, it would also create an unsafe workplace for faculty and staff,” Miami Dade College President Eduardo Padron said. The file of quotes I have similar to this is unending.

If arming our campuses were to be a serious policy initiative, it would require a paradigm. shift in the training required to obtain a concealed-weapons license. It would also require allowing universities to have a choice. It would require outfitting our dorms with firearm-storage units. The host of collateral issues not addressed by the bill are long and obvious.

Our university campuses are some of the safest places in the world. Let’s keep them that way. As someone who has lived in both worlds, I believe our lawmakers should respect the will of the people and keep guns off campus.

The public, and our lawmakers, should not allow the debate over this bill to devolve into a Second Amendment tag line.