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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Poke78" data-source="post: 1078235" data-attributes="member: 4333">News OK article: <a href="http://newsok.com/article/3450344#disqus_thread" target="_blank">http://newsok.com/article/3450344#disqus_thread</a>A House committee passed a measure Tuesday that would allow students and teachers with permits to carry concealed weapons to take their guns to CareerTech centers. Phil Berkenbile "I worry about having guns on campuses and how easy it might be to get them.Rep. John Enns, House author of Senate Bill 2230, said those with guns would be able to bring them on CareerTech campuses as long as the weapons remain locked in their vehicle. The weapons also must be secured with a locking device, said Enns, R-Enid. People could not take the weapons out of the vehicle or carry the weapons on campus, he said. The House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee passed SB 2230 by a vote of 10-1. It now goes to the full House of Representatives. Concealed weapons are not allowed on university and college campuses or on any public school property in the state. Phil Berkenbile, director of the state CareerTech system, said in a telephone interview he is concerned about the measure. "Weve got a lot of responsible people, and weve got a lot of rural people that go to our technology centers, but I worry about having guns on campuses and how easy it might be to get to them, said Berkenbile, co- chairman of the Campus Life and Safety and Security Task Force, which studies safety issues on campuses. Berkenbile said he told Enns about his concerns. "I think hes listening to some of his constituents that may be traveling a long ways or have a gun in their vehicle for protection, and they dont want to run the risk of showing up at a campus somewhere and be picked up for violating the law with that weapon in their possession, Berkenbile said. "It still means that somebodys car could have a gun in it. Enns said the matter became an issue for adult students who carry a weapon, mostly for protection, and go to CareerTech classes. "There are people who get off work, and then they go straight to a CareerTech center for class, and the problem was that they carry a gun so then now they cant go on campus and they dont have time to go home, Enns said. "It kind of puts them in a quagmire. Berkenbile said even though the gun is locked and secured in a vehicle, the person still would have the keys. "People know that, and we have a lot of weird things going on across the country, he said. "Deep down it bothers me. He (Enns) did it with the purest of intentions, but it still bothers me. Higher Education Chancellor Glen Johnson, co-chairman of the campus security task force, said Tuesday that weapons have no place at universities or colleges. "Guns on college campuses do not do anything other than create a more dangerous environment for students, faculty and those who visit our campus, Johnson said.</blockquote>

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