Some UWM Student Veterans Seek Right to Campus Carry

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The ongoing conflict of whether students should be allowed to conceal firearms in campus buildings heated the UWM Student Association’s Safety Committee meeting Friday, with committee members pitted against two student veterans, who brought forth a petition signed by 90 people who want the right to carry guns on campus.

Devin Gatton (left) and Kyle Beesley (right) are allotted five minutes each by the Safety Committee. Photo by Montel Allen.
Devin Gatton (left) and Kyle Beesley (right) are allotted five minutes each by the Safety Committee. Photo by Montel Allen.

This was just a public hearing on the controversial bill. The Student Association Senate was to vote on whether to support or oppose the legislative proposal allowing guns in campus buildings on  Sunday, Oct. 25 in the Fireside Lounge at 5 p.m. (Media Milwaukee was also at the Sunday meeting, and we will bring you that story shortly).

Five of the eight Safety Committee members who spoke on the topic sided with prohibiting concealed carry in UWM campus buildings. At the center of this debate was the issue of mass shootings, namely the recent shooting that happened on an Oregon college campus.

The only people speaking out in favor of students being able to carry concealed weapons at the meeting were UWM students and veterans of the U.S. Marine Corps Kyle Beesley and Devin Gatton—the only non-committee attendees present. Beesley is a junior studying Political Science, and Gatton, senior, is triple majoring History, Religious Studies and Political Science.

Devin Gatton uses his wife as an example of someone who can’t protect themselves. Photo by Montel Allen.
Devin Gatton uses his wife as an example of someone who can’t protect themselves. Photo by Montel Allen.

“My right to be safe trumps your right to feel safe,” said Gatton. Gatton and Beesley were both allotted time to voice what rights they believe students should have in regards to carrying a concealed weapon.

Currently it is legal to conceal a weapon on the UWM campus, but it’s against university policy to bring said weapon into a campus building. A bill in the state Legislature would change that by essentially making it so students, faculty and others who qualify could carry concealed weapons in campus buildings throughout the state.

The Safety Committee is made up of UWM students, and running the meeting was its Chair, David Koltermann. Friday’s meeting was held in room EG80 in the Union, moved from smaller EG79 prior to the meeting. The audience for the meeting included Gatton and Beesley, the Safety Committee and only four other people from UWM’s Student Association.

There was a strong emphasis on veterans from both sides at the meeting. Gatton and Beesley spoke about how UWM has a wealth of veterans right on campus, all, they said, fit to use a firearm if necessary. Max Eggenberger, co-author of the newly proposed, 88 lines of legislation titled ‘Resolution On Campus Weapons Policy,’ proposed a compromise: allow conceal carry, but preferably for those who are over the age of 25 (legal age is 21) and are veterans. The idea was declined given the discussion was tailored towards the legislation coming from Madison only.

The Safety Committee members run through the agenda, with issues regarding concealed carry taking up most of the agenda. Photo by Montel Allen.
The Safety Committee members run through the agenda, with issues regarding concealed carry taking up most of the agenda. Photo by Montel Allen.

Vice President of Student Affairs for the Student Association, Evan Braun, and Koltermann both pointed out that they own guns. What they don’t think is the best idea is to have more guns on campus.

“I’m not against guns; I don’t want guns taken away,” said Kolterman. “It’s just this university has too high a concentration of people per square foot…It’s dangerous.”

UWM is home to over 1,000 veterans, many of whom know how to handle a gun. No matter what branch of the military you’re in, they train you in using guns, according to Gatton and Beesley.

Ganton trained in Camp Pendleton and spent four years there following his training and three years in North Carolina and Quantico, VA. Beesley was in the Marine Corps for four years and was stationed in Yuma, Az., later being deployed on the USS Makin Island on the 11th MEU.

“My right to be safe should not end because I come to college” was Beesley’s final statement to the Safety Committee. Photo by Montel Allen.
“My right to be safe should not end because I come to college” was Beesley’s final statement to the Safety Committee. Photo by Montel Allen.

When asked about whether official persons with firearms (like police officers) would be enough for him to feel safe on campus, Beesley told Media Milwaukee no.

”I want to be able to protect myself,” said Beesley. “It takes time to get places. It takes time to report those to the police. The police aren’t just going to show up automatically.”

Gatton said the bulk of mass shootings are being done in areas where you cannot conceal carry, and the veteran in the Oregon shooting who did have a concealed weapon didn’t use it and that was his choice.

At-large Senator for the Student Association Trevor Jung used the perspective of law enforcement, and used the shooting of Congresswoman Gabby Giffords in Arizona as an example of this. Jung talks about how when cops arrived, they saw people with their guns out.

“There is so much courage in what you guys are talking about,” said Jung to Beesley and Gatton. “But when it comes to making sure that law enforcement can do their job and when they get to a situation that they can be as effective as possible, I think that’s something we need to consider too.”

Ultimately, Gatton doesn’t own a gun, and he doesn’t want to. What he does want is for his wife and his peers—those who can’t defend themselves like he could himself—to be safe.