Despite new gun laws, Bryan’s policies remain the same

By Maddie Mondell
Triangle Writer

Bryan College recently posted signs around the campus informing visitors and residents about the gun policy on  the hill / Photo by Maddie Mondell
Bryan College recently posted signs around the campus informing visitors and residents about the gun policy on the hill / Photo by Maddie Mondell

Last Friday, Tennessee Governor Bill Haslam signed Senate Bill 142, which will allow people with handgun-carry permits to keep firearms in their locked vehicles on most parking lots in Tennessee.

Bryan College’s Director of the Physical Plant, Doug Schott, said that as far as Bryan’s actions towards the legislation, Schott only implements policy that the college decides on.

As of right now, Bryan College does not allow guns to be held in vehicles in parking lots on school property.

“There is an implied notion of authority at college and parents have an expectation that we are going to keep their children safe,” said Schott.

Many students have noticed such recent implementations of policy like the recent signs posted around Bryan campus informing students that it is against state policy to carry weapons on school property.

The signs being posted around campus were only done so in compliance with new regulations about posting signage alerting students about weapons on campus from state government officials, according to Schott.

The majority of lawmakers who debated the parking lot bill last month rejected amendments to protect employees with gun permits from employer sanctions. They also rejected amendments to ban guns at parking lots at schools, college campuses, airports, and other safety-sensitive places, according to The Commercial Appeal in Memphis, Tenn.

This bill only applies to handgun-carry permit holders, who may keep guns in their locked vehicles at most workplaces and businesses and not violate state law. The law does not explicitly prohibit employers from imposing their own policies on employees and sanctioning those who are found violating them.

Haslam signed the bill, which will go into effect July 1, without public comment.