Just days after Wisconsin Republicans introduced a bill expanding campus carry, Democratic lawmakers introduced legislation banning weapons from college campuses altogether.
Madison Reps. Chris Taylor, Melissa Sargent and Terese Berceau introduced their bill on Wednesday, which would make it illegal to carry weapons anywhere on the state’s college campuses.
“I support the Second Amendment. Hunting and shooting are part of our national heritage, but I also support our kids – our future – and those who are investing in them,” Rep. Sargent explained on her Facebook page. “As a mom I know we must do everything we can to ensure that our college campuses are safe for everyone.”
Current law in Wisconsin allows concealed carry on campuses, but the University of Wisconsin system and the Wisconsin Technical College system both forbid guns inside the buildings of public colleges and universities.
The Republican bill, introduced in the state legislature on Monday, would remove this exception and allow licensed students and faculty to their carry concealed weapons into campus buildings.
Republicans hold majorities in both houses of the Wisconsin state legislature, so the Democrat’s bill has little chance of passing. However, it will most likely receive support from University Wisconsin officials and faculty who have been outspoken in their opposition to the Republican proposal.
The College Republicans UW-Madison chapter responded to the debate in a statement provided to Red Alert Politics.
“The concealed carry bill is still in the preliminary stages, and we are interested in learning more details about it as it goes through the committee process and amendments may be added,” said chairman Anthony Birch.
Birch said the group supports the Second Amendment and are interested in any measures that deal with student safety.
“We want to deter criminals from committing crimes, not law abiding citizens from seeking to protect themselves,” he said.
