Chancellor Ballard and other UNC officials are off track on this one | Eastern North Carolina Now

    Publisher's Note: This article originally appeared in the Beaufort Observer.

    Monday will be a big day for constitutional rights at the General Assembly. H 937 is on the calendar for a floor debate and vote.

    The President of the UNC system, the president of the UNCG Alumni Association and ECU's Chancellor Steve Ballard have recently jumped into the political fray on the bill by opposing it. Simply stated, their opposition is foolishness. Here's why:

    H 937 corrects existing problems with the gun laws related to concealed carry permit (CHP) holders. It would allow them to take their weapon into a restaurant or event that sells tickets as long as the permit holder does not consume any alcohol. Such is now prohibited. It would also allow a CHP holder to have their weapon on state property, including community colleges and universities as long as it is locked in their vehicles. What that does is allow a state employee to have their weapon while they are commuting to and from work. That is not possible now.

    Chancellor Ballard and President Ross oppose the bill because they say that they fear CHP holders would interfere with campus police. They contend that police might not be able to distinguish a CHP holder from an illegal "active shooter." They contend that campus police are better at protecting the safety of persons on campus. There are several problems with their positions.

    First, this bill only allows a CHP holder to have the weapon on campus if it is locked inside a vehicle. That should present no problem to a campus officer in being able to deal with an active shooter. Current law, and the training CHP holders receive, does not allow them to use a weapon except in the face of an imminent threat. We take that to mean that a CHP holder is not authorized by the permit to assume the responsibility of substituting their actions for that of law enforcement authorities. The CHP training places a heavy emphasis on self-defense, not o proactive interposition.

    Chancellor Ballad in his email to ECU staff implies that CHP holders might act irresponsibly in an emergency. The record shows just the opposite. In states where concealed carry is permitted even in class, offices and on campus (which is not authorized in this bill) there are almost no reports of that right being abused any more than there are reports of campus police using unreasonable force under color of law.

    He also suggests campus police are better trained. Again, the facts do not show that to necessarily be the case. Many CHP holders are more proficient with their weapons than are campus police officers. Indeed, we know of former FBI agents who work on campus or take classes who are much better trained in the use of firearms and even hostage situations than is the typical campus officer. And of course there are many veterans who are more proficient. We know of a former SEAL attending ECU who is probably one of the most highly trained individuals in the world today, and he is prohibited from possessing a weapon on campus, even if locked in his car.

    But the real problem is with faculty and staff. Those who have CHPs cannot have them in their car while driving to and from campus because now once they enter campus they are violating the law. So they are rendered defenseless not only on campus but on their route to and from campus, which in many cases is a number of miles on desolate roads. The intent of H 937 is to allow them to protect themselves while commuting.

    All of this applies equally to our community colleges.

    Education officials have a tough job in protecting the safety of those on campus. Indeed it is their highest responsibility, above all else and equal to protecting the public health on campus. And we do not denigrate the competence of campus police. But the simple fact of the matter is that college campuses and the areas in close proximity are not safe places. And one reason they are not safe is because criminals know they are "gun free zones" and the people on campus, and those in proximity (such as walking from off campus parking) are the most defenseless people in society. Easy marks.

    Were criminals to know that if they attack a student returning to their car after class that they might pull a weapon and be able to defend themself we have no doubt there would be less attacks.

    The simple thing for the campus administrators to do is try allow students, faculty and staff to be prepared to defend themselves. Then if this resulted in more innocent injuries than is true now they would be within their rights to ask that the law be changed.

    Chancellor Ballard's argument is seriously flawed when you consider a young lady (yes, the stats show females are more vulnerable) leaving class (remember he touts ECU being a pedestrian campus) and having to walk blocks to her car at night after class or leaving the library. If she is confronted by an attacker the campus police are going to do her no good, unless one happens to be nearby. It takes several minutes for police to arrive. By then it is too late, either to protect the victim or catch the criminal. Almost weekly we hear of such cases.

    With all due respect to Chancellor Ballard, the ECU campus is not a very secure place. Not at all. In fact, it is one of the most crime ridden places in Greenville. And one reason, we believe, it is, is because student, staff and faculty have been rendered defenseless.

    H 937 would not correct this, but if the UNC system advocated and allowed students with CHP to exercise that right on campus we believe the campuses would be considerably safer than they are.

    In fact, given recent incidents, we would suggest Dr. Ballard and his family secure a CHP and carry an appropriate weapon themselves.

    Click here to review H 937.
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Beaufort County Government's General Meeting Agenda: Monday, May 6, 2013 Statewide, Government, State and Federal Taxpayers Will Get 'Standing' To Sue If Bill Becomes Law


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