Kimberly Nelson | Co-Editor in Chief

Gun control has been a controversy at the forefront of many academic communities across the nation after the deadly Sandy-Hook shooting in December 2012. President Obama along with his administration has been pushing for stricter gun control policies since the incident occurred over two months ago. While the talk of strict gun control policy is part of weekly conversations, Buena Vista University (BVU) has no intention of changing their firearms policy here on campus.

Director of Campus Security Mark Kirkholm said no changes will be made in the firearms policy at BVU because firearms have not been allowed on any BVU property for approximately the past five years.

“There are no firearms allowed on the property of BVU,” Kirkholm said. “That being said, that does pertain to law enforcement while they go about their official duties.”

While students are not allowed guns on BVU property, they may possess them if they are stored in public areas such as in a car parked on a street like Grand Avenue in front of Liberty Hall.

“[Students] can park their vehicles off campus property and they can do whatever they wish,” Kirkholm said. “For example, the parking on the east side of the stadium…that’s actually public property so people who park there can keep a firearm in their vehicle.”

Students who violate the firearm policy will be taken through the Code of Conduct process just like any other policy violation put in place by BVU.

BVU did not always have a strict no-firearm policy in effect. Before Kirkholm took his position at BVU, students were allowed to keep firearms in gun lockers located in Pierce Hall.

“After I came 13 years ago, we changed that over to where you need to keep the firearm with [Campus Security],” Kirkholm said.

Students were then allowed to keep firearms in a gun safe and check them in and out through Campus Security. Policy changed approximately five years ago due to the change in national concern.

“I think it was a growing trend across the nation and amongst schools [to ban firearms],” Kirkholm said. “It was the best practice for school safety-related issues back then.”

Although Kirkholm said that there are no intentions to change the firearm policies to reflect the nation concerns on gun control, they have been reviewing their emergency management plan to make sure BVU is prepared for any armed intruders.

“I think what we’re looking at more is more communication with law enforcement and more awareness,” Kirkholm said. “We are not a sworn entity here and my staff or I do not carry firearms, and so we rely on local law enforcement to respond in case of an armed intruder.”

Kirkholm says plans for the future include educating and making the BVU community aware of how to react in serious situations.

Graphic by Krystal Schulte