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Rally held to support concealed carry on campus

GUNS
GUNS
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Rally held to support concealed carry on campus
The group Kentucky Students for Concealed Carry believes colleges would be safer if they could bring guns on campus.They held a rally Wednesday in Frankfort to support a bill allowing just that, but opponents were there as well.Supporters of the bill want to be able to defend themselves and stop active shooters. Opponents worry there will be more shootings, accidental or otherwise."The thought of guns on a college campus is just very concerning to me," Connie Coartney said.Coartney is a mother of two college students who worries about House Bill 221.It would allow guns on school properties, from elementary schools to colleges.Coartney and other members of Moms Demand Action were in Frankfort Wednesday to voice their concerns.So was University of Louisville student Ilye Chernyavskiy, who organized a rally in the capitol rotunda in support of the bill.“Gun-free zones have ramifications in making anyone there a potential victim and an easy target," Chernyavskiy said.Nearby, on Kentucky State University's campus, students are divided on the issue."It's not a place for that. Give students pencils, pens, not weapons,” D’Andre Garrison said."It's not bad to carry a gun if you're using it for the right reasons. If you're using it for protection, yes, it's fine,” Sean Spencer said.The bill's sponsor, State Rep. Tim Moore, said anyone bringing a gun onto campus would need a concealed carry permit."They have to be at least 21. They have to go through a complete vetting, a background check and other measures to make sure they are responsible,” Moore said.But Coartney said with the prevalence of drinking and young people on college campuses, it's still a bad idea."Our group supports the Second Amendment. We're certainly not opposed to guns. We just think certain places there shouldn't be allowed to be guns, and we think college campuses are one of those," she said.The bill has not had a committee hearing yet, but its sponsor said he thinks it has bipartisan support. Moore's bill would also allow people with concealed carry permits to bring guns to General Assembly meetings.

The group Kentucky Students for Concealed Carry believes colleges would be safer if they could bring guns on campus.

They held a rally Wednesday in Frankfort to support a bill allowing just that, but opponents were there as well.

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Supporters of the bill want to be able to defend themselves and stop active shooters. Opponents worry there will be more shootings, accidental or otherwise.

"The thought of guns on a college campus is just very concerning to me," Connie Coartney said.

Coartney is a mother of two college students who worries about House Bill 221.

It would allow guns on school properties, from elementary schools to colleges.

Coartney and other members of Moms Demand Action were in Frankfort Wednesday to voice their concerns.

So was University of Louisville student Ilye Chernyavskiy, who organized a rally in the capitol rotunda in support of the bill.

“Gun-free zones have ramifications in making anyone there a potential victim and an easy target," Chernyavskiy said.

Nearby, on Kentucky State University's campus, students are divided on the issue.

"It's not a place for that. Give students pencils, pens, not weapons,” D’Andre Garrison said.

"It's not bad to carry a gun if you're using it for the right reasons. If you're using it for protection, yes, it's fine,” Sean Spencer said.

The bill's sponsor, State Rep. Tim Moore, said anyone bringing a gun onto campus would need a concealed carry permit.

"They have to be at least 21. They have to go through a complete vetting, a background check and other measures to make sure they are responsible,” Moore said.

But Coartney said with the prevalence of drinking and young people on college campuses, it's still a bad idea.

"Our group supports the Second Amendment. We're certainly not opposed to guns. We just think certain places there shouldn't be allowed to be guns, and we think college campuses are one of those," she said.

The bill has not had a committee hearing yet, but its sponsor said he thinks it has bipartisan support. Moore's bill would also allow people with concealed carry permits to bring guns to General Assembly meetings.