From: Joni Worthington
Sent: Monday, April 29, 2013 2:38 PM
Subject: Statement of UNC President Tom Ross on proposed gun legislation

April 29, 2012

STATEMENT OF UNC PRESIDENT TOM ROSS

For immediate use

University of North Carolina President Tom Ross today (April 29) expressed serious concerns about provisions included in House Bill 937 that would allow individuals with concealed-carry permits to bring guns onto UNC and other college and university campuses:

“We have an obligation to provide a safe environment for our students and employees, and every UNC campus has a trained police force charged with promoting the safety of all people who come onto our campuses.  All UNC Chancellors and Chiefs of Police believe allowing guns on campus would increase the risk to public safety and hamper our ability to protect not only our students, staff ,and faculty, but also campus visitors, including parents, siblings of students, and summer camp participants.  Vehicle break-ins are one of the leading crimes on college campuses, and even guns brought lawfully onto campus, as contemplated by this bill, could fall into the wrong hands and result in serious injury or death.

“In addition, a number of UNC campuses house early college high schools, middle schools, or summer camps for younger children.  The presence of these young people further heightens our concerns about the safety risks that come with guns getting into the wrong hands.  Moreover, when responding to an armed robbery or active shooter incident, our officers would often be hard pressed to distinguish between a criminal suspect and well-intentioned bystanders with weapons drawn, particularly in the heat of the moment.  The potential for tragedy far outweighs any potential benefit or convenience to concealed-carry permit holders.  We encourage the General Assembly to remove the provision that would allow guns to be brought onto UNC and other college and university campuses.”   

Joni B. Worthington

Vice President for Communications

The University of North Carolina

P.O. Box 2688

910 Raleigh Road

Chapel Hill, NC  27515

Phone: (919) 962-4629

FAX:  (919) 962-5463

Email:  worthj@northcarolina.edu