House Bill 334 Rejected in Senate

House Bill 334 has caused quite a stir here at Plymouth State University and ignited a controversial flame. Should firearms be allowed concealed on campus or shouldn't they? 

At a forum held on Dec. 7, in the Fire Place Lounge, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice Mark Fischler, and Campus P. D. representatives Jen Frank and Chief of Campus Police Creig Doyle lead an open discussion of the bill. 

They described both arguments for and against this bill to give students and faculty members in attendance a basic education on what this bill entailed and how it may affect the campus if enacted. From the input of the audience, it was clear that most students were in agreement that allowing concealed weapons on a public university campus would only lead to problems. 

NH State Rep for Grafton County, Suzanne Smith stated, "I don't think [having guns on campus] would make universities less dangerous...One argument is that students would be safer, but that's really not true."

Smith's words were reflected on Dec. 8, just one day after this serious forum, when news broke countrywide that a shooting had taken place at Virginia Tech. It was quite ironic that such a tragedy would occur while Plymouth Students were preoccupied discussing the potential impact of House Bill 334. 

Not only would House Bill 334 allow the concealment of firearms, but it also states that "No public or private entity shall prohibit the possession of firearms or knives on any property owned, in whole or in part, by the state, or an agency, political subdivision, committee, or other governmental unit thereof, unless expressly authorized in statute" (nh.gov). 

Whereas public universities of New Hampshire are presently allowed to pass their own policies regarding firearms on campus, if passed, this bill would restrict this ability. Smith affirms that "[HB 334] takes away control from the Universities." Smith continues, "I am all for 2nd amendment rights, but I believe that there are some situations where guns don't belong... it should be up to the school, not the legislature in Concord."

On Dec. 9, the day after the shooting at Virginia Tech that claimed two lives, avid proponents of HB 334 Bradley Jardis and Tommy Mozingo, came to PSU to demonstrate their support of the bill, along with a number of their followers. Jardis and Mozingo received the publicity they were expecting, one of their most obvious ploys to grab the attention of the population of Plymouth neither confirming nor denying whether they actually were concealing a firearm, a right that this bill would completely support. 

As a student, could one every truly feel comfortable walking around on campus not knowing who was concealing a firearm? 

Although on Jan. 4, 2012, HB 334 passed in the House, on Wed., Feb. 8, 2012 the Senate rejected all bills having to do with guns. According to Senate President Peter Bragdon in a recent interview with New Hampshire Public Radio, "We spent a grand total of 6 minutes on 5 bills because we want to focus on the issues that are important to the New Hampshire people."

"As far as the Senate is concerned," Bragdon continued, "our number one priority and number two priority are jobs and the economy are spending and taxes."

However, had this not been the fate the of HB 334, Smith was confident that if for some reason it progressed all the way to the desk of John Lynch, "The Governor [would] veto the bill."