JUNEAU, Ala. – The Alaska chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America, part of Everytown for Gun Safety, today released the following statement in response to the Senate passing Senate Bill 174, which would force the Board of Regents of the University of Alaska to allow guns on campus. Now headed to the House, the proposed legislation was recently amended to make it even more dangerous. The updated version of SB 174 weakens the few safeguards that were present in the bill and would now force even dormitories and health and counseling centers on campus to allow guns.
Currently, Alaska’s public colleges and universities can decide whether to allow guns on campus. The University of Alaska estimates an initial implementation cost of $1.3 million if the bill is passed and signed into law, and Governor Walker has already projected the state’s 2017 operating budget will decrease from previous years.
STATEMENT FROM CHELAN SCHREIFELS, A VOLUNTEER WITH THE ALASKA CHAPTER OF MOMS DEMAND ACTION FOR GUN SENSE IN AMERICA:
“Our elected leaders in the Senate not only failed to reject this dangerous legislation, but made it even worse before handing it off to their colleagues in the House. There is no question about it: SB 174 puts campus safety on the line and forces guns into the mix of already stressful campus life. Students in Alaska go to college to focus on their studies and excel in the next chapter of their lives – not to worry if classmates are carrying a gun in class. Legislators in Alaska should be more concerned with putting the safety of Alaska’s students first, not supporting gun lobby-backed legislation that would force guns onto college campuses. We urge the Alaska House to reject this dangerous bill and to not add guns to environments rife with alcohol, drugs, and academic pressures.”
