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WEBVTT EPSTEVEN LONG GETS PASSED, THAT'LLCHANGE.THE LAW CURRENTLY IS PRETTYSTRAIGHTFORWARD.NO WEAPONS ALLOWED ON PRIVATE ORPUBLIC SCHOOL GROUNDS.IF REPRESENTATIVE LONG GETS HISBILL THROUGH?THAT'LL SAY-MORE OR LESS-NOWEAPONS ALLOWED UNLESS YOU HAVEA CONCEALED WEAPON PERMIT.IF YOU ASK STUDENTS AT CLEMSON,MOST OF THE ONES WE TALKED TODON'T LIKE THE IDEA.>> I THINK IF SOMEONE HAS A GUN,THEY MIGHT NOT NECESSARILY NEEDTO USE IT BUT THEY KNOW THEYHAVE IT SO THERE'S MORE A CHANCETHEY ARE GOING TO BRING IT OUTIN A SITUATION WHERE YOU MIGHTNOT NECESSARILY NEED ONE.>> I WOULD DEFINITELY NOT BECOMFORTABLE IF I KNEW PEOPLE HADGUNS ON CAMPUS.I CAN SEE HOW ITS DEFINITELY,YOU HAVE A RIGHT TO BEAR ARMSESPECIALLY IF YOU HAVE A PERMITBUT I WOULD NOT FEEL SAFE IFSOMEONE IN CLASS HAD A GUN INTHEIR BOOKBAG.REPORTER: BUT REP LONG SAYS,ANYONE WITH A CWP HAS HADTRAINING, REACHEQUALIFICATIONS, HAD A QUOTE,RIGOROUS BACKGROUND CHECK.HE SAYS, IF YOU'RE A CRIMINAL,YOU'RE GOING TO BRING A GUN ONCAMPUS WHETHER IT'S LEGAL ORNOT.SOME STUDENTS, LIKE THE IDEA OFHIS BILL.>> I DON'T SEE WHY NOT AROUNDHERE.I FEEL LIKE THE MAIN REASON TOHAVE A GUN IS SELF-DEFENSE ANDGOD FORBID ANYONE EVER CAME ONCAMPUS WITH A GUN, I WOULD FEELA LOT SAFER KNOWING THATSTUDENTS WERE ARMED AND READY TOPROTECT THEMSELVES.REPORTER: BUT IN A STATEMENTCLEMSON UNIVERSITY , VOICED THEIR DISAPPROVAL.V.P. OF UNIVERSITY RELATIONSMARK LAND SAID, QUOTE,CLEMSON UNIVERSITY IS NOT INFAVOR OF ALLOWING GUNS ONCAMPUS, AND OUR OFFICIALS HAVETESTIFIED ON THE ISSUE BEFORETHE GENERAL ASSEMBLY PREVIOUSLY.

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A proposed bill could make it legal to carry a concealed weapon on college and university campuses in South Carolina. A proposed bill by Rep. Steven Long (R-Spartanburg) could allow anyone with a concealed-weapons permit, or CWP, to bring a firearm onto college or university property. Bill 3262 is in its very early stages. It was prefiled in December and filed in January. Currently, it is illegal to bring a firearm onto any public or private higher-education property. This would make it legal only with a CWP. Long said he believes the bill will help prevent crimes, shootings and sexual assaults, citing the stabbing incident at Ohio State University. Long said someone can't get a CWP without paperwork, training, qualifications and a "rigorous" background check. To take our NOW Poll and vote on the issue, click here. "If someone wants to carry a gun on campus, they will," Long said. "If a criminal wants to cause harm, they will. This allows students to protect themselves."South Carolina school officials have already spoken out against the proposed bill. "Clemson University is not in favor of allowing guns on campus, and our officials have testified on the issue before the General Assembly previously. For a variety of reasons, we think this bill would make the campus less safe rather than more safe," Mark Land, vice president for university relations, said in a statement.The majority of Clemson students interviewed by WYFF News 4 disagreed with the proposed bill."I would definitely not be comfortable if I knew people had guns on campus," student Mairin Noonan said. "I can see how you have a right to bear arms, especially if you have a permit, but I would not feel safe if someone in class had a gun in their bookbag." Said Ashton Guest, another student: "I think if someone has a gun, they might not necessarily need to use it but (if) they know they have it so... there's more of a chance they're going to bring it out in a situation where you might not necessarily need one." However, other students said they liked the idea. "I don’t see why not around here. I feel like the main reason to have a gun is self-defense and, God forbid, anyone ever came on campus with a gun, I'd feel a lot safer knowing that students were armed and ready to protect themselves."Long said the proposed bill will need to go through multiple committees before it will potentially go to the House floor. The University of South Carolina has also opposed the proposed bill. "The safety and security of our campus continues to be the university’s primary concern and there is no doubt that our campus is the safest place in Columbia for students. The university remains opposed to anyone carrying a firearm on campus other than law enforcement officers, a position supported not only by USCPD and other state and local law enforcement agencies but also by higher education and law enforcement professional associations across the country. In addition to state law, the possession or use of firearms or weapons of any kind is prohibited on campus by university policy and the student code of conduct," Wes Hickman, Chief Communications Director for USC, said.