(KNOXVILLE) A bill allowing full-time college employees who are permitted to carry guns on campus is now law, without Gov. Bill Haslam's signature.
The "campus-carry" law will allow Tennessee's nearly 16,000 campus employees the option of carrying a weapon on campus and in the classroom.
On the University of Tennessee's campuses, that means more than 11,000 faculty and staff.
The law includes some restrictions:
- Employees must notify campus law enforcement of their intent to be armed.
- Guns will not be allowed at large sporting events, disciplinary hearings and tenure meetings.
A survey last month by the Faculty Senate at UT showed an overwhelming 87 percent of faculty opposed guns on campus.
Students have mixed feelings about the idea that a professor could possibly pack heat.
“I feel like it's a good change, especially with the recent shootings on college campuses and problems with safety,” said senior Madeleine Gaddis.
“I feel like it makes me feel less safe,” said freshman Kiley Schetz. "Because I don't like the thought of a gun being in my classroom even if my professor might be there to use it to protect me. It makes me feel uncomfortable.”
“It makes me feel a little more safe knowing someone in the classroom can protect us. Granted we have to make sure they know what they're doing,” said sophomore David Hamilton.
Gun activists see it as a small step in the right direction.
"Rights have been taken away historically one little bit at a time,” said Liston Matthews. “And I’ve come to realize as I've gotten older that rights are restored one little bit at a time.”
Matthews has fought for guns to be allowed in other areas around Knoxville, and praises the new law.
"The presence of the firearm in the hands of the good person is what really makes the difference,” said Matthews.
Research, supporters say, shows an increased presence of guns on campus helps fight criminal activity.
“What we see is more and more people lawfully carrying handguns, and in those areas where that happens we see crime goes down,” said Matthews.
In the end, Matthews believes, it all comes down to saving lives.
"When we have an active shooter, who are you going to call? Somebody with a gun. The advantage of campus-carry is hopefully someone with a gun will be 10 seconds away instead of 10 minutes.”
UT President Joe Dipietro released a statement saying UT's "position has been and continues to be that we do not support, as a general premise, any measure that would increase the number of guns on college campuses other than already are allowed by law.”
The new law will give school law enforcement agencies the chance to develop and implement new polices.
University of Tennessee Police Department Chief Troy Lane told WBIR he can’t release details yet, but that his department is already working on a plan to accommodate the coming changes.
They have until July 1, when the law goes into effect, to implement that.