A bill that would have allowed people to bring guns on college campuses in Georgia was vetoed by Governor Nathan Deal May 2.
Governor Deal referenced a lack of cooperation from the legislature and historical precedent as the reasoning for his decision to reject the bill, reports the Associated Press.
“From the early days of our nation state, colleges have been treated as sanctuaries of learning where firearms have not been allowed,” Deal says. “To depart from such time honored protections should require overwhelming justification. I do not find that such justification exists.”
The bill would have allowed anyone over the age of 20 with a concealed carry permit to bring concealed handguns onto public college campuses.
Legislators who supported the bill, along with the National Rifle Association, say they will continue pushing for the bill’s passage in the next legislative session.
RELATED: Forced to Allow Guns on Campus, UT Adopts 25 New Firearm Policies
After lawmakers approved the bill, Deal had requested they propose additional bills to prevent guns from being brought onto campus daycare centers, areas on campus where high school students may be present and rooms where campus disciplinary hearings are held.
The governor’s suggestions were likely a response to concerns raised by the University System of Georgia, student groups and anti-gun activists. All 29 public university and college presidents in the state spoke out against the bill. All of Georgia’s public college police chiefs also opposed the bill.
Deal, who also recently vetoed a bill protecting opponents of gay marriage, is in his second and final term as governor.
Campus Safety had previously reported on a similar bill that went into law in Tennessee on the same day as Governor Deal’s veto. Under that law, only staff members at public universities and colleges can bring concealed handguns on campus.
Read Next: Should We Allow CCP Holders to Carry Guns on Campus? 11 Reservations of a ‘Gun Guy’