Students could carry guns inside UW-L buildings if bill passes

As of now, signs posted at building
entrances prohibit weapons inside 

 On the campus of the University of Wisconsin -La Crosse, there are signs posted at every entrance to every building making clear that weapons are prohibited inside.

Those signs stem from a 2011 law that allowed license holders to carry guns on the grounds of public colleges and universities. Campuses, however, could still decide whether to allow students and staff to have them in buildings.

Now a bill sponsored by two Wisconsin lawmakers would make it legal to carry in any building.

UW-L Chancellor Joe Gow says this is not the first time these conversations have come up with the student and staff community there.

“When this issue arose with the institution of concealed carry,” Gow said, “we did have a conversation with the people in our community, and they said we don’t want guns and other concealed weapons in our buildings, so we do post all the buildings and those are not allowed.”

State Representative Jesse Kremer says that allowing students and others to carry weapons would be a deterrent to crime on and around campuses.

Gow says he hopes the pair talk to students and staff about their comfort levels of dealing with guns in buildings on campuses before going any further.