Delta State University ‘gun-free zone’

You’ve heard about the Delta State University (MS) professor shooting his rival on campus this week.

“The Board of Trustees of State Institutions of Higher Learning hereby prohibits the possession of pistols, firearms or other weapons in any form by any person other than duly authorized law enforcement officials on its institution premises or at any of its institutions or student functions off campus, regardless of whether such person possesses a valid permit to carry such pistols, firearms or weapons. Also, section 97-37-17 of the Mississippi Code makes it a felony for any student to possess or carry, whether openly or concealed, any firearm on University property.”

Note that the MS Code DOES authorize those with “enhanced”* carry permits to carry on campus, and apparently DOES allow open carry anywhere (I’m unaware of any case law on OC since the new statute took effect.) In this particular case it seems pretty unlikely that campus carry would have made any difference.

*A person so licensed under Section 45-9-101 “shall also be authorized to carry weapons in courthouses except in courtrooms during a judicial proceeding, and any location listed in subsection (13) of Section 45-9-101, except any place of nuisance as defined in Section 95-3-1, any police, sheriff or highway patrol station or any detention facility, prison or jail.” Subsection (13) lists schools.

Here’s the AG’s opinion on enhanced permits at schools.

Note that another MS AG’s opinion on open carry, which says it can be restricted at “sensitive places” is inconsistent with that law and the state constitution.

We also note that once again, this was not an “active shooter” situation, even though that is what was reported. By the time they knew of the shooting and reported an “active shooter,” it was all over, and the killer was not hurting or hunting for anyone else.

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