By JASON PARKER
Utah gun-rights advocates have continued their attack on gun policies, aiming their sights at the University of Utah.
Joe Venus Jr., publisher of the Kearns-based American Gun Review magazine — the state’s largest certifier of concealed weapons — said he will sue the university if they continue to ban legally-possessed concealed weapons.
Venus said that by banning all firearms, the university is in direct violation of state law.
“The University of Utah is a political subdivision,” he said. “Under state preemption, the laws have to be uniformly applicable throughout the state and its political subdivisions. They don’t have the right to enforce their own ban on firearms,” he said. “Only the state legislature can change state law.”
A university spokesperson was previously misquoted, when he said the university may revisit the policy if gun-rights advocates persisted, said Laura Scott, assistant general council member.
Scott said the university has no plans to review the 20-year-old policy even if they are taken to court.
Since 1977 the university has upheld the policy which prohibits “possession or use on the university premises or at university activities of any firearm or other dangerous weapon, incendiary device, explosive or chemical unless such possession or use has been authorized by the university.”
In 1995 the policy underwent substantial revision which included a 60-day open comment period in which students and faculty could comment specifically on gun rights.
“No students or faculty members commented on the policy during the 60-day open comment period,” Scott said.
“We still believe guns are inconsistent with the educational environment,” she said.
Venus said he was willing to work with the university before taking any legal action.
“We’re going to give them till Oct. 7, or so; if we don’t begin to see any positive results, we’ll go full steam ahead with filing the suit,” he said.
Venus said they have already taken up the issue with Murray City and the public library system after they put up signs prohibiting firearms.
“We told them they were in violation of state law and they cooperated in lifting their ban,” Venus said.
I just don’t think anyone should be above the law. We are only trying to protect the students and our rights, Venus said.
“You and I have to abide by the state law, so does the University of Utah,” he said.
