BOULDER, Colo.—University of Colorado regents on Friday voted 5-4 to fight to keep its campus gun ban, choosing to appeal a court’s ruling against the ban to the Colorado Supreme Court.
Four of the board’s five Republicans voted in favor of accepting a state appeals court ruling against the ban and allowing students with concealed weapons permits to carry firearms.
But Republican Tillie Bishop of Grand Junction voted with the board’s four Democrats in favor of an appeal, saying he wanted to preserve the rights of regents to make rules for the university.
The Colorado Court of Appeals in April ruled in favor of a gun-rights group that sued CU, arguing that a 1994 university policy banning concealed weapons violates state gun laws.
The ruling and a threat of a lawsuit by gun-rights advocates prompted Colorado State University in May to rescind a newly approved ban on concealed weapons. The state’s community college system then repealed a ban on its 13 campuses.
Colorado State officials said they will wait to see what happens with CU’s appeal before taking further action.
CU has until the end of the month to file an appeal.
The University of Colorado and its lawyers have argued that the state law on concealed weapons doesn’t apply to CU because it is a constitutionally created institution of higher education. The CU Board of Regents is part of state government, but isn’t a local government like a city or a county, they say.
Before the regents voted, CU President Bruce Benson, a former state GOP chairman, said he has been a gun owner since he was 5 and supports the right to carry concealed weapons. But not on CU’s campus.
“I am urging the regents to appeal this case,” Benson said.
Regent Steve Bosley joined fellow Republicans in voting against fighting the court decision.
“You have to decide when to pick your battles,” Bosley said. “I have concluded this is not a case I pick to pursue.”
CU’s student government reversed its previous stance and voted to endorse the gun ban on Thursday night following criticism from students.
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Information from: Daily Camera,
