Brady Center Urges CO Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to CU's Gun Policy

Jun 30, 2010

Washington, D.C. - The Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence and Colorado gun violence prevention groups today filed a friend of the court brief in the Colorado Supreme Court in support of the University of Colorado’s efforts to keep guns off campus.  The University is seeking review by the Colorado Supreme Court of a lower court ruling allowing a lawsuit to proceed that seeks to force guns onto the University’s campuses.

The Brady Center argues in its brief that the University’s policy is a reasonable and Constitutional response to the grave dangers posed by armed students and campus visitors and is in keeping with the policy of most universities.  The Brady Center urges the Court to reverse the lower court ruling and uphold the University’s gun policy, which protects students from the dangers of guns on campus.

Paul Helmke, President of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence stated, “The University’s common-sense policy of prohibiting armed students and visitors is reasonable and necessary to protect public safety.  The U.S. Supreme Court made clear this week that there is no constitutional right to have guns ‘in sensitive places such as schools.’”

The case before the court is Students for Concealed Carry v. The Regents of the University of Colorado.  El Paso County District Court Judge G. David Miller last year dismissed the lawsuit, rejecting SCC’s attempt to force the University to allow students to carry loaded, concealed guns on campus.  In his opinion, Judge Miller noted that the University Regents had determined that the presence of guns on campus “threatens the tranquility of the education environment and contributes in an offensive manner to an unacceptable climate of violence.”  In April 2010, the Colorado Court of Appeals disagreed with the trial court and held that the case could proceed.

The Brady Center report, No Gun Left Behind: The Gun Lobby's Campaign to Push Guns Into Colleges and Schools, highlights the severe dangers posed by guns on campus.  The report describes why bringing guns onto campus would dramatically increase the danger to students and faculty.  Studies show that college gun owners are more likely than other students to binge drink, use cocaine or crack, be arrested for a DUI, vandalize property, and get in trouble with the police.  Every year about 1,100 college students commit suicide, but another 24,000 attempt to do so.  Given that 90 percent of attempted suicides with guns are successful, easy access to guns on campus will likely lead to an increase in suicides.

Edward Ramey of the Denver law firm of Isaacson Rosenbaum P.C. is representing the Brady Center pro bono.  Other groups joining the Brady Center on the brief are the Colorado Ceasefire Capitol Fund and the Greater Denver Million Mom March.

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The Brady Campaign is the nation's largest citizens' lobby to prevent gun violence. We represent the voice of the overwhelming majority of Americans who are tired of living with the constant tragedy of gun violence and are in favor of strong laws and policies that will save lives. We are the light that exposes politicians who are putting the American people at risk, empowering the American people to hold them accountable for decisions and actions that undermine public safety.

We are driven by the focused vision of a nation where all Americans are safe at home, at work, at school, and in our communities.

Dan Gross is the President of the Brady Campaign and the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence. A photo and more information about Dan Gross is available here.

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