Boise State Accused of Violating First Amendment
The ACLU of Idaho and the Idaho Freedom Foundation claim that Boise State University violated the First Amendment when they charged a student group security fees for bringing a gun rights advocate to speak at the school.
BOISE, Idaho – The American Civil Liberties Union of Idaho and the Idaho Freedom Foundation are asking Boise State University officials to reconsider its on-campus event policies.
The two groups claim the university violated the First Amendment when school officials charged Young Americans for Liberty $465 in security fees for inviting Dick Heller, a gun rights advocate, to speak at the campus in May, the Associated Press reports.
During the event, the police decided to staff extra officers to increase safety after school administrators learned that a community member was urging event attendees to openly carry weapons on campus.
Now, ACLU and the Idaho Freedom Foundation are asking the university to refund the student organization as well as amend its event policies. Boise State officials say they will rescind the security fines but will not change the university’s events policies, reports the Associated Press. A spokesman for the school says that not providing extra security for the gun rights group’s event would have been negligent.
University officials said it is not unusual for student groups to charge for enhanced security.
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