Is that coed packin'?

Yesterday was apparently "Second Amendment Day" at CU-Boulder. Who knows their Constitution?

The right to bear arms seems to rear its debatably ugly head every few years at CU. Though the Colorado Attorney General found last year that the CU Regents' ban on concealed weapons on campus was legal, CU's College Republicans are hardly surrendering their belief in their right to carry a gun on campus.

For their "Second Amendment Day" Wednesday, the Republicans held a presentation at the University Memorial Center's Dalton Trumbo Memorial Fountain featuring speakers and informational displays about guns. CU Republicans contend that the Regents' laws banning concealed-carry are unconstitutional and are asking they be repealed.

"We are all about preventing lawlessness on our campus and promoting a safer environment on our campus for everyone, especially women," said College Republicans Chair Brad Jones.

But he added that carrying a gun is a constitutional right that students should be allowed to exercise in self-defense on campus.

Republicans were not the only ones speaking out Wednesday.

Brian Schwartz, a CU graduate student and chair of the CU Campus Libertarians, spoke at the rally, contending that a misguided fear of guns is to blame for the ban.

"It is an unjust stereotype that people who carry concealed weapons are violent and short-tempered," said Schwartz.

He compared the stereotype of gun owners to those held about the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered community, saying that both stereotypes are unfair and false.

"Carrying a firearm for a person to protect themselves is a lifestyle choice," he said, later adding, "Think about what happens if you prevent someone from using their right to self-defense - the blood is on your hands."

Sue Rehg, the Colorado State Coordinator of Second Amendment Sisters, Inc. explained the importance of preserving the Second Amendment right to bear arms.

"As far as campuses are concerned, we want to give people on campuses information about their right to defend themselves," said Rehg.

She claimed that criminals tend to gravitate toward gun-free zones, and that makes campuses vulnerable to criminal activity.

"Crime goes down where gun laws are more lenient," she said. "It is important for people to know that people who carry guns legally with a permit are the most law abiding citizens."

In April of 2003, controversy erupted over two state Senate bills that eventually were passed into law. SB 24 and 25 changed gun-permit regulations and overturned local firearm bans. Concern arose at CU that the "blanket" law would overturn the Board of Regents' ban on firearms on campus.

However, Colorado Attorney General Ken Salazar ruled that because the regents are considered their own governing body, their ban stood.

CU issued a statement this afternoon on its policy.

"The University of Colorado continues to support the CU Board of Regents' resolution banning firearms on campus ... in addition, existing data on this issue indicate that not having weapons on campus is in the best interest of the entire campus community's safety," read the statement issued by the CU Office of Communications.

Some CU students seem to support the university's stance, but the jury is still out.

"As far as rights, I believe in Second Amendment rights," said Matt Adkins, a CU junior. "Arming college students, especially in an area of such high alcohol consumption is a really bad idea."

CU freshman and CU Republican Courtney Betker contended, "If someone attacks you, you have the right to defend yourself whether you are drunk or not." Jones added that gun-permit holders also attend a training class on operating a firearm and agree to abide by rules against using a weapon under the influence of alcohol.

Adkins and CU sophomore Omid Bachari said students should be able to protect themselves with non-lethal alternatives such as martial arts.

"If people had to resort to learning self-defense (if guns were outlawed completely), it would alleviate their ability to kill someone and they would be much more disciplined and mature," said Bachari.

However, sophomore Rachel Uris said the right to bear arms should be protected for the adults on university campuses.

"People who register guns are not the people who shoot up schools. Taking away being able to legally bear arms only leaves them in the hands of criminals."

The CU Police Department provides weapons storage facilities with 24-hour access for university-housed students.