Many of you have heard about the recently disclosed documents from the University of Utah dealing with legal open carry and concealed carry. If you haven’t, here is a link to them…
http://www.iCarryUtah.com/uofu_policy_open_carry.pdf
The University of Utah has placed two of their police officers on leave because they leaked this document. A complete story on this is available at http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/50985304-90/university-campus-officers-policy.html.csp
Remi Barton with the University of Utah says that this information isn’t for the public record because…
the guidelines in question are protocols that officers use when responding to potentially dangerous situations, and therefore arent intended for public consumption and arent subject to state open-records laws.
Let’s read from the introduction to the document…
This guide is designated to provide UUPD officers with a quick reference when
responding to calls of persons displaying/openly carrying weapons in non-violent situations.
So, this guide IS NOT intended to reference “active shooter” scenarios. It’s specifically intended for NON-VIOLENT situations.
Now, if a student writes a thesis with clear and blatant lies, that student is called to account for such behavior. If they steal someone elses’ work, it’s not tolerated, and is considered dishonest.
But when the University itself does something dishonest – well, that’s apparently kosher.
I don’t think so.
First, the two officers that released this information – which is a clearly written example of how the University of Utah is attempting to ignore Utah law – should be considered heroes. They did the right thing.
Secondly, the University of Utah is basically lying about the intent of the document, by saying that it is intended as policy in dealing with potentially dangerous situations. The document itself clearly states that it is for reference in NON-VIOLENT situations. It’s one or the other, and the document itself states that it’s not what the University of Utah says it is. No excuse for trying to hide it behind the guise of public safety.
So much for honesty at the University of Utah. Michael K. Young should hang his head in shame.
Then you have the fact that the University of Utah is ignoring Utah law – yet again.
I’d recommend that you contact your state legislators and let them know that you object to your tax dollars being used to support an institution that ignores Utah laws. The session starts later this month, and the University of Utah is asking for a lot of money.
Michael K. Young may have just shot himself (figuratively, of course) in the wallet.
I’d also like to address one other issue….
He wrote…
It is clear to me that having weapons in plain sight on this campus creates a fearful and intimidating campus environment.
Mr. Young, this is the western United States. Utah is a much more free state than California or New York. Here, it is acceptable for people to openly carry firearms. Utah law DOES permit concealed firearm permit holders to openly carry firearms on your campus.
If you feel that this creates an intimidating environment, I’d invite you to relocate yourself to a state where this is not acceptable – such as California or NewYork. Then you won’t see firearms openly carried, and most likely won’t encounter a concealed firearm either.
If you feel intimidated by things that are socially acceptable here in Utah, go somewhere where you will be comfortable with the social norms of the area.
I know that if I was not comfortable living somewhere because I didn’t like the social norms of the area, I’d be smart enough to move to a place where I felt safe and accepted. I wouldn’t “kick against the pricks” in an effort to change that society to accommodate me. The big people, real world doesn’t work that way.
This isn’t a zero-tolerance elementary or junior-high school you are running. It’s supposed to be an institution of higher education where honesty and integrity are valued, and the free flow of ideas – even those foreign or contrary to yours – is encouraged.
Welcome to Utah. It’s a more free State than most others. If you don’t like that, don’t try to change it. Don’t try to turn the University of Utah into your own idea of a utopia. We like Utah the way it is, and it’s not your authority to ignore Utah law when it doesn’t fit your ideals.
If you can’t OBEY Utah law and be intellectually honest the way you tell your students to be, then please go find another school to run in a state where you will feel comfortable, where the laws are already the way you want them to be. They are out there. If you are not comfortable here, don’t keep torturing yourself. Either learn to be comfortable here, or go where you will be comfortable.
That’s what a smart person would do.