Atlanta — January 27, 2010

During a hearing on HB615 at the state capitol today held by the House Judiciary Committee (non-civil), chaired by Rep. Ed Setzler, University System of Georgia (USG) officials introduced into the record a statement by Board of Regents Chairman Robert F. Hatcher, Chancellor Erroll B. Davis Jr., and the 35 institutional presidents, supporting current Georgia law, which, with limited exceptions, prohibits the possession of firearms on college and university campuses. The proposed legislation in HB615 would allow individuals to carry firearms on college campuses, among other changes to current Georgia law relating to firearms possession.

The statement reads in part: “We believe that current Georgia law, which creates school safety zones where firearms are not permitted, is very clear and has served the students, faculty, and staff of the University System of Georgia well. We are deeply concerned about proposed legislation that would permit firearms on our campuses; in our classrooms, residence halls, fraternity houses, student centers, and parking lots; and at our athletic and other public events. We do not think this promotes a safe learning environment for our students or is in the best interest of the state or of the University System.”

The full statement can be accessed at: http://www.usg.edu/pub_docs/GunStatement1.10_.pdf

At the hearing, two University System of Georgia (USG) representatives spoke in support of current Georgia law: Dr. Daniel J. Kaufman, president of Georgia Gwinnett College in Lawrenceville and Alina Staskevicius, president of the Georgia Institute of Technology student government association.

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