Students for Concealed Carry protesting on-campus weapons ban with empty holster protest
Students have been carrying empty gun holsters around campus this week to advocate for the legalization of concealed carry on college campuses.
The Empty Holster Protest is a national event and the primary awareness event for Students for Concealed Carry. Members of the Central Michigan University branch of SCC will be wearing their holsters to class as well as tabling in the Bovee University Center on April 4-5. This is the second year SCC has participated in the event.
The purpose of the event is to protest both state laws and college polices that forbid citizens, who are legally permitted to carry concealed weapons, from doing so on college campuses.
"Since criminals do not honor rules against firearms, these dangerous policies stack the odds against students and in favor of criminals," said Matthew Tuzas, a Saginaw senior and assistant state director for SCC. "The empty holster is a token, symbolizing that disarming all law-abiding citizens creates a defense-free zone, which are attractive targets for criminals."
Although the Empty Holster Protest is most commonly associated with firearms, SCC members are hoping to make other deterrents available as well.
"Our biggest concern is that on campus you’re not allowed to carry any kind of weapon or deterrent," said Casey Lang, a Mount Pleasant junior and campus leader for SCC.
Lang said he knows some girls who carry pepper spray, but even that could get them in serious trouble, or possibly even expelled.
"If someone comes at them, their only defense is to run to a blue light and hope to God that the police come in time," Lang said. "Our goal is to make it so that law abiding citizens that are maybe in danger can protect themselves."
The CMU Police department has no official position on the matter of concealed carry, however, Lt. Cameron Wassman said the department has no issues with the protest, as long as protesters follow CMU’s advocacy policy.
"In terms of the protest, people are able to utilize their free speech rights," Wassman said. "The purpose of the police department of this university is to enforce the rules that are in place"
