Stein to Shoot Down Guns-on-campus Bill

Kathy Stein says Bob Damron's campus gun totin' bill (HB 114) won't get past her committee. Good.

Jody Richards says it won't get past him either. Doubly good.

Damron dangles universtiy presidents with the Bond Bill. Typical.


This (and photo) from the Courier-Journal:

Campus gun bill is likely to die

Various officials oppose proposal

FRANKFORT, Ky. -- A bill that would allow people to bring guns onto college campuses -- and use them if they were threatened -- may die in a legislative committee amid growing concerns by educators and others.

"This is a really bad idea," said Centre College President John Roush, whose private college in Danville bans firearms. "It would run counter to our tradition and the principles on which we operate our community."

Other university presidents also oppose House Bill 114. And while it has more than 50 co-sponsors in the 100-member House, it is stuck in the Judiciary Committee because the chairwoman opposes it.

Rep. Kathy Stein, a Lexington Democrat who heads the committee, said HB 114 is "way too broad" and she doesn't plan to call it for a committee hearing or vote.

Kentucky law allows post-secondary schools to ban firearms on their campuses. HB 114, sponsored by Rep. Robert Damron, D-Nicholasville, would change that.

It would let people bring guns to campus in their vehicles and also would apply to other university property, such as sports arenas or hospitals. In addition, gun owners could remove firearms from their vehicles to defend themselves, their property or someone else.

Damron supported past successful gun legislation, including Kentucky's concealed carry law. He said in an interview that he simply wants to allow responsible gun owners to keep their weapons in their cars when they drive to work or school.

"This is not a big deal," he said...

...Stein's plan not to hear the bill angered Damron, who accused her in an interview of "sticking a knife" in his eye and called her "gun control Sally." Stein said she believes Damron's comments were "inappropriate" but added that she's not upset. "I have a very thick skin. I've been called worse by better." ...

...Some critics said the bill could lead to "road rage" incidents on campuses similar to the 2007 shooting in a Louisville parking lot that left a man brain damaged after he and another driver pulled guns at a stop sign...

...The presidents of Kentucky's public universities generally have limited their comments on the bill to saying they want to retain the authority to ban guns on their campuses...

...Stein said university officials may be worried about offending Damron, who also is sponsor of a bill that would allow state universities to issue bonds for construction projects without state approval. That's something major universities have been desperately seeking in recent years.

Stein called it "inappropriate" to link the two issues.

Damron said the public universities' opposition to the gun bill shows they are "out of step" with public opinion and could well affect whether lawmakers decide to approve the bond bill...

...Damron said that if he can't get the bill sent to a more favorable committee, he may try to force a vote on the House floor without a committee hearing by getting at least 25 lawmakers to sign a discharge petition...

...But House Speaker Jody Richards, D-Bowling Green said he won't remove the bill from Stein's committee -- where it was sent by House leadership -- and doesn't
support it....