Exercising the Right

Anti-gun Educators

There were some recent news stories that highlight how pervasive an anti-gun bias is in our educational institutions. The first incident was reported by the Salt Lake Tribune on August 23 and involved a graduate assistant at the University of Utah who handed out a class syllabus that berated anyone who carried concealed to class, saying they exhibited “absurd, antisocial, and frightening behavior.” The teacher’s assistant further warned that anyone who carried would be confined to standing in the back of the classroom in a designated location that was “3X3.” These warnings came despite the fact that it is perfectly legal under Utah state law to carry concealed on campus.

This syllabus generated controversy online and was roundly condemned by both students and politicians within the first few days of class. Utah State Representative Karianne Lisonbee posted on Facebook, “I am livid…. A University of Utah professor doesn’t understand the Bill of Rights and university policy on free speech — which is disturbing enough. But even more egregious, she is seeking to break state law and deprive students of their rights.” The university quickly moved to correct the teacher’s assistant and reassigned her to a different class, and also scheduled her to attend some training on the subject matter to prevent a similar recurrence.

The next story was reported by The College Fix on August 24 and involved a University of Kansas professor who threw a hissy fit after a state law that permits concealed carry on campus came into effect. The professor wrote in his class syllabus that he won’t have much time to meet students in his office because he “no longer feels safe”:

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