The University of POST OFFICE BOX 2688, CHAPEL HILL, NC 27515-2688 Telephone: (919) 962-1000 Fax (919) 843-9695

Opinion Statement – House Bill 937 Constituent Universities Appalachian State From: University Chief Gunther Doerr, Appalachian State University Police East Carolina Acting Chief Jason Sugg, Police University Interim Chief John Manley, Elizabeth City State University Police Elizabeth City Chief Robert Hassell, Fayetteville State University Police State University Chief Glenn Newell, North Carolina A&T State University Police Fayetteville State Chief Tim Bellamy, North Carolina Central University Police University Chief Jack Moorman, North Carolina State University Police

North Carolina Chief Eric Boyce, University of North Carolina at Asheville Police Agricultural and Chief Jeff McCracken, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Police Technical State Chief Jeff Baker, University of North Carolina at Charlotte Police University Chief Jamie Herring, University of North Carolina at Greensboro Police North Carolina Chief McDuffie Cummings, University of North Carolina at Pembroke Police Central University Chief David Donaldson, University of North Carolina at Wilmington Police

North Carolina Chief Deb Cheesebro, University of North Carolina School of the Arts Police State University Chief Earnest Hudson, Western Carolina University Police at Raleigh Chief Pat Norris, Winston-Salem State University Police

University of Security Director Rick Hess, North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics North Carolina Chief Emily West, North Carolina Police at Asheville Associate Vice President for Campus Safety and Emergency Operations Brent

University of Herron, UNC General Administration North Carolina at Chapel Hill The police chiefs of the 17 UNC campuses oppose the provision of House Bill 937

University of that would allow handguns on our campuses. We believe passage of this bill would North Carolina increase the risk to the safety of our students, faculty, staff, and visitors. at Charlotte Studies show that university campuses are consistently safer and experience University of North Carolina significantly less crime than surrounding communities. at Greensboro Some of our universities have middle schools and high schools on their campuses, University of and many of our universities host summer youth camps. This bill would allow North Carolina concealed-weapon permit holders to bring their handguns onto these venues. at Pembroke

University of According to HB 937, private colleges and universities would have the authority to North Carolina decide whether or not they allowed handguns on their campuses. This bill would at Wilmington have a disparate impact on public colleges and universities, as we would not have University of the same discretion and authority that private colleges do. Currently 45 states either North Carolina School of the Arts ban guns on campuses or allow universities the discretion to choose whether or not to ban guns. Western Carolina University In the event of a campus emergency, it is possible that concealed-carry permit Winston-Salem holders may feel empowered to retrieve their handguns, thereby complicating and State University potentially hindering law enforcement response on a crowded campus. Constituent High School North Carolina The potential risk to those on campus far outweighs the convenience to concealed- School of Science carry permit holders. We encourage the General Assembly to remove the provision and Mathematics from HB 937 that would allow guns on university campuses. An Equal Opportunity/ Affirmative Action Employer 6.10.13