Feb 18, 2008 4:16 pm US/Pacific
Arizona Mulls Concealed Carry Rights At Schools
PHEONIX (AP) ―
A committee of the Arizona Legislature is weighing arguments made today over a proposal to let people with permits to carry concealed weapons bring guns to K-12 schools, community colleges and universities.
The Senate's Judiciary Committee listened to more than two hours of testimony about the proposal, but didn't take a vote.
The testimony came four days after a gunman opened fire during a lecture at Northern Illinois University, killing five young people before turning a gun on himself.
Supporters say the permit-holders should be allowed to carry guns at schools so they can defend themselves and others if a gunman starts shooting people and police haven't yet arrived at the scene.
Opponents say police officers urgently responding to a school shooting might have difficulty distinguishing innocent permit-holders from the gunman.
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