- Valdosta, Ga. - May 23, 2012 -

Should college students be allowed to carry firearms to school? Some say yes, but faculty members at Valdosta State University say no.

The Faculty Senate at Valdosta State University is taking a stand against concealed guns on campus. They unanimously passed a resolution May 17th to keep guns out of the classrooms and off university grounds.

"I think it's a bad idea for guns to be on campus because all of us are young adults and I don't think we at this age fully understand the risk assessment of using guns on campus," said Airy Hall, VSU student and president of the VSU student chapter of the NAACP.

The resolution holds no real legal power, it's more a statement. In fact, concealed carry is already banned in its policies.

The Faculty Senate is standing in opposition to House Bill 981. That bill has already been defeated but these faculty members expect it will find its way back on the ballot next year, if only in slightly different form.

The bill proposed allowing citizens the right to carry concealed weapons into bars, churches, college campuses and even go as far as elementary schools.

"Criminals thrive in places where there are no guns. Cause they know there are no guns there and the only people who can stop them are the police," said Davis Day, salesman at T3 Outdoors.

The Faculty Senate's resolution still has to be approved by the president of the university.

Valdosta State is the first university in Georgia to take an aggressive stance against concealed carry.