AJC TL;DR: 27 violations; no shootings.
Basically, the AJC says that some students seem to have some issues understanding this pretty complicated law and run into situations where they are in violation. They are unaware that concealed means it needs to be out of sight. (Some supporters really want Open Carry.) Some people are negligent, such as the people at UGA who left guns in gym lockers, the conference center hotel room, or at a bus stop. This is still better than Georgia K-12 school teachers who accidentally discharged their gun or left it in places for a student to find them.
Supporters, in general, want a simpler law that allows guns everywhere as the existing one is pretty complicated to comply with given all the exceptions. Opponents, in general, want it repealed. Faculty supporters of campus carry feel the law discriminates against them because they can carry in their classroom but not their office. Faculty opponents see themselves under a more severe disadvantage to angry students still developing their executive function in the brain.
Somewhat surprised the AJC failed to add a few related things from their own reporting:
- Albany State campus shooting
- Georgia Tech student killed by police while wielding a “knife” (multitool)
- Shooting near Georgia Southwestern (could not find this in AJC, it was WALB) which is relevant as students needing to protect themselves walking through dangerous neighborhoods near campus was cited by legislators as the reason for passing this law
- Non-student shot another non-student on Savannah State campus
It doesn’t really look like campus carry ended shootings on campus. Nor did it spur a Wild West constant shootout situation or a rampage of mass shootings. Students are still getting robbed near campuses. So, it made some students feel safer that they are carrying a gun. Well, until they are held up and someone steals their $500 gun.
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