Q&A on the News

Q: The bill to allow guns on Georgia’s college campuses prohibits carrying them in certain places like dormitories. Wouldn’t this restriction require a gun to be stored in an automobile while the gun’s owner is in a dorm or classroom? This would encourage car break-ins by gun thieves, which in turn might attract the attention of a gun-carrying student and result in an armed confrontation. Will colleges create secure storage areas for firearms and charge a fee? —Tony Gardner, Cumming

A: It’s unclear how universities would handle the issue of gun storage should the “campus carry” bill become law. Gov. Nathan Deal still must decide whether to sign the measure, which Georgia lawmakers passed last week.

Under House Bill 280, anyone with a concealed weapons permit would be allowed to carry firearms on public college and university campuses, with exceptions that include dormitories, sorority and fraternity houses.

Unlike states such as Texas, which included provisions allowing gun safes and lockers in university housing in its “campus carry” measure last year, Georgia’s bill does not raise the issue.

State law currently allows weapons to only be locked in cars if the permit holder comes onto campus.

Otherwise, according to the bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Mandi Ballinger, R-Canton, “the bill contemplates that most students over 21 are not going to be still living on campus.”

AJC staff writer Kristina Torres contributed. Do you have a question? We’ll try to get the answer. Call 404-222-2002 or email q&a@ajc.com (include name, phone and city).

CURTIS COMPTON / AJC Students, faculty, staff and local residents hold a protest against campus carry legislation at the University of Georgia Arch on March 21 in Athens.