Seemed a good time to ask Republican Rep. Charlie Collins of Fayetteville whether he’d any change of heart/plans regarding his plan to again introduce legislation to allow college staff to carry guns on campus. His response:
As I tweeted in response to a comment by @mervinj earlier today, I will be happy to reengage on this issue after we allow some time for mourning. I believe there are funerals scheduled for some of the children this week. This senseless tragedy leaves all of us heartsick for the families that have lost their loved ones.
The direct answer to your question is that yes, I will reintroduce my professor carry bill (it was HB1479 in the last session). I believe the legislation can help deter some crazy killers from attacking people on our college campuses and/or reduce the loss of life in those situations that do occur, since the potential exists under my bill for full time employees and faculty who have a concealed carry permit to act in self defense against a killer while they are at work on their college campus. There is no provision for student carry on campus in my legislation. I will be happy to engage with you on this later.
College leaders generally opposed this last go-round.