In a policy reversal, Rep. Walt Brooks introduced legislation to ban open carry at Utah’s public college campuses, shifting course after statewide scrutiny following a campus shooting. The proposed ban contrasts with the state’s recent loosening of gun rules and responds to calls for heightened campus safety measures. The change follows the fatal shooting of a public figure at a Utah college campus and months of debate over campus firearms policy. Brooks, a National Rifle Association member, framed the bill as a targeted safety measure for public higher education institutions. College public‑safety directors and campus counsel should monitor the bill’s progress and prepare for operational impacts: enforcement protocols, signage, training for campus officers, and student communications will require recalibration if the ban becomes law. The move illustrates how high‑profile incidents can rapidly reshape campus policy debates.
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