A plan to let university employees carry guns on campus is on its way to Gov. Bill Haslam’s desk after winning approval from the Tennessee House of Representatives Wednesday night.
The proposal applies to all full-time employees of public universities in Tennessee. To carry a gun, university employees would have to have a state handgun carry permit. They’d also have to notify campus police and agree to keep the weapon concealed.
Universities have opposed the measure. They say their surveys show large numbers of professors and students do as well.
But the measure’s sponsor, state Rep. Andy Holt, R-Dresden, says it’ll give back some rights to those who do want to carry guns.
“There’s ample provision in this bill that will allow individuals, if they chose not to carry, they don’t have to,” he said.
The measure does not apply to private universities. Earlier this year, lawmakers voted to let them set their own gun policies.
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