Only a small number of employees at public universities in Tennessee have signed up to carry guns on campus after a new law allowing them to do so went into effect July 1.
Under the law, full time university employees with concealed carry permits can bring their guns onto campus after registering with campus or local police.
There are 27,000 employees eligible to bring their guns on campus under the law, but police have reported a small number of people actually registering, according to an article in The Tennessean.
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The article, which was written after collecting data from several law enforcement agencies, gave specific numbers at some schools, listed below.
- The University of Tennessee-Knoxville recorded 72 employees who filed requests with campus police.
- Middle Tennessee State University saw 15 to 20 employees register to carry guns on campus. MTSU Police Chief Buddy Peaster says he expects more employees to register as more time passes.
- The University of Memphis had applications for 17 employees who wished to carry guns.
- East Tennessee State University had 11 employees register.
- Austin Peay State University had six employees register.
- Tennessee State had three employees submit applications.
The law prohibits employees from bringing guns onto certain areas of campus, such as stadiums, gymnasiums, hospitals and meetings discussing disciplinary or tenure issues.
Campus Safety had previously reported that many members of the higher education community in the state opposed the law.
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