WQOW TV: Eau Claire, WI NEWS18 News, Weather, and SportsCollege campuses may be able to ban guns in buildings, but not on grounds

College campuses may be able to ban guns in buildings, but not on grounds

Eau Claire (WQOW) – There are questions about the impact a new gun law will have on college campuses. 

Since Governor Scott Walker signed the concealed carry bill, there have been a lot of questions about how the law will affect government and business.  

You could say keeping the campus safe is job number one for UW-Eau Claire Police Chief David Sprick. 

"We're always concerned about the potential of weapons jeopardizing safety on our campus," say Sprick. 

And that concern won't change for universities when the state's concealed carry law takes effect in November. 

"We've never had concealed carry before, this is something new, so obviously there's a chance we could have more guns on campus," says Doug Mell, UW-Stout Director of Communications. 

Under the concealed carry law, universities will have the ability to prohibit guns in buildings. 

"We will do whatever is necessary to make sure that no one will carry concealed weapons into our buildings, that's academic buildings, that's residence halls, that's dining services," says Mell. 

However, university leaders at UW-Eau Claire and UW-Stout say they're still exploring the impact the law will have on campus grounds. 

"Under the law we should be able to ban, prohibit them from our buildings," says Sprick.  "The question of whether weapons can be prohibited from the general open grounds is one that's being researched." 

Here's one thing they do know, only those who are at least 21 years old will be able to get a license.  And they'll need training. 

"Presumably people who obtain CCW permits will have had some kind of training or training certification and will be of sound mind and have a clear criminal record," says Sprick.  "We would not anticipate problems from those types of citizens." 

Some campuses, like UW-Eau Claire, have special lockers where students can store guns while they're on campus.  The Chippewa Valley Technical College is also exploring the impact the new law will have on campus.