Cantrell is one of many at UTC and across the state who see a problem in House Bill 2016. It would let faculty and staff with handgun carry permits bring their firearms to campus. Right now, the law bars anyone, even permit holders, other than law enforcement from bringing weapons to campus. And UTC Chief of Police Bob Ratchford says that's how it should stay.
I'll get to Ratchford in a minute.
As to Mr Cantrell, it seems that quite a few people have forgotten their station in the pecking order. The university is a subdivision of the state, a state that has set the requirements for citizens to carry a firearm. If the duly-elected representatives of a state decide that properly licensed citizens should be able to carry weapons on a state-sponsored college campus, then the only correct response by the university is 'Yes, sir' and figure it out. A properly concealed handgun will be of no impact to the student body, and it might even save a life or 30.
And Bob Ratchford, you need to resign, immediately. It is not your place to dictate terms about things that are properly the states' responsibility. You work for the citizens of the state of Tennessee. If their elected officials decide to allow firearms on campus, then your correct response is 'Yes, sir', then go to your office, close the door and have a nice, tall glass of STFU. You do not 'train' citizens how to act (though law enforcement continually tries); citizens dictate how
you are to act.
Try not to forget that.
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