Anti-gun group wants College of Lake County’s support

College of Lake County trustees have been asked to support an organization working to prevent laws that would allow students and others to carry concealed firearms on campuses of two- and four-year schools.

Board members at a meeting in Grayslake recently were asked to pass a resolution backing New York-based Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus. However, CLC board Chairman Richard Anderson said, elected officials tabled the proposal because they wanted more information about the organization.

Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus formed in late 2008 after slayings at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois universities. The group has voiced concern over pending legislation in Ohio and Michigan that would let students and faculty carry firearms on college campuses.

Earlier this month, the organization issued a news release about how proposals to allow concealed firearms in classrooms and elsewhere on college campuses were defeated in 12 states and struck a blow to “the gun lobby’s extremist agenda.” Illinois does not have a law allowing civilians to carry concealed weapons.

Andy Pelosi, founder and executive director of Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus, said nearly 350 universities and colleges across the country have passed resolutions backing his organization and its stance on firearms. He declined to address whether CLC officials should be skittish about his group.

“I would encourage the (CLC) board of trustees to reach out to us so that we can answer any questions that they may have,” Pelosi said.

He contends allowing guns on college campuses would make it more difficult to attract the best students and teachers.

CLC’s proposed resolution to support the organization states, in part: “A growing body of evidence indicates that when firearms are introduced to an educational environment, the result is more injuries and death.”

Anderson said while the board will look into whether it should back the group, the elected officials intend to discuss whether a policy is needed to specifically ban firearms from CLC’s campuses in Grayslake, Waukegan and Vernon Hills.

Pelosi said some two- and four-year Illinois colleges have passed resolutions supporting Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus. The organization’s list of supporters includes College of DuPage in Glen Ellyn, South Suburban College in South Holland and Southern Illinois University in Carbondale.