Emily Walton is a political activist. The Boise State University grad’s been campaigning to prevent Americans from exercising their natural, civil and Constitutionally protected right to keep and bear arms on Idaho college campuses. Ms. Walton recently testified in front of the House Committee considering the bill (testimony text after the jump). Her argument: nobody wants it. Yes, well, what about this from arbiteronline.com: “There are 367 registered sex offenders living within a three mile radius of Boise State’s campus, according to the Central Sex Offender Registry of Idaho. This currently includes 19 students enrolled at Boise State who are registered sex offenders.” Isn’t that enough to justify concealed carry for someone? And if so, why should their rights be denied? Just wondering . . .
Mr. Chairman, members of the committee, my name is Emily Walton I live in Boise and I graduated from Boise State last year.
This is my second time testifying in your committee. The last time I testified before your committee was three years ago when I was a student who testified against a similar bill. So I went online to find the quote in the paper for exactly what I said back then: “I don’t think that guns belong on a school campus, concealed or un-concealed. … It would add more tension to our campus. I think it would alter the atmosphere and I don’t want that. Students are not asking for this to happen. …. Honestly, we think it’s crazy.”
While my main point is the same as last time I was here I do have a few more things to add to my testimony.
In the last few days I got to work with student associations from all over Idaho and we were able to build a coalition – the Coalition to Keep Guns Off Campus, which is made up of students, student associations, professors, parents and community members. And yesterday we had a peaceful, lawful protest against this bill on the steps of the capitol that drew about 300 students and faculty.
And here is what some of the members are wondering – and what I want to add to my testimony.
1. Isn’t it that enough that the Presidents of each and every one of Idaho’s Colleges and Universities oppose this bill.
2. Isn’t it enough that several faculty senates from Idaho Colleges and Universities have gone on the record opposing this bill?
3. Isn’t it enough that the Idaho State Board of Education opposes this bill?
4. Isn’t it enough that the Idaho Chiefs of Police and other law enforcement oppose this bill?
5. Isn’t it enough that student representatives from student associations – (who are elected from the student body to represent students) oppose this bill?
Who would you like us to bring in here?
There isn’t one education stakeholder in Idaho who supports this bill.
Please vote against it.