Michael Stipe has a decades-long history of speaking out on social causes. Which is why it was no surprise that the former R.E.M. singer and Sen. Bernie Sanders supporter penned an emotional Op-Ed for USA Today encouraging action on an issue dear to his heart.
“For me, this battle hits close to home. I met my future R.E.M. bandmates when we were all students at the University of Georgia in Athens. It was there that we started playing together and performing and years later, several of us still call Athens home,” wrote Stipe in a piece about a bill on the desk of Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal that will allow concealed carry of handguns on college campuses across the state.
Citing a 2014 survey that found 78 percent opposition to House Bill 859, as well as resistance from college administrators, student and faculty groups, Stipe wrote that he was concerned about how guns might affect college life. “I worry about what it means when loaded guns are allowed at a tailgate where alcohol is being served,” he said “I’m concerned for survivors of sexual assault, who may soon have to face an armed assailant at the time of the crime and again at their disciplinary hearing.”
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He also wondered about putting loaded, hidden guns into the mix in the classroom setting, and what might happen when students get into a heated debate knowing that some fellow students might have weapons in their backpacks? “When similar legislation passed in Texas, renowned professors left — refusing to teach with guns forced into their classrooms,” Stipe wrote. “Six of the major universities and university systems in the state estimated a combined cost of $56 million over six years to prepare for guns on campus. Cash strapped Georgia schools simply can’t afford this.”
The Georgia Senate passed HB 859 in March, which would allow anyone over 21 with a weapons license to carry a gun anywhere on a public college or university campus, excluding sporting events and fraternity and sorority houses. If Deal signs the bill, Georgia would join eight other states with campus carry, despite objections from Univ. of Georgia president Jere Morehead, who supported arguments against the measure given in March by University System of Georgia Chancellor Hank Huckaby. “Allowing students to have firearms on campus makes [police officers’] jobs extremely challenging, particularly if an extreme emergency were to occur,” Huckaby testified.
Citing statistics from Everytown for Gun Safety, Stipe noted that, so far, 17 similar bills have been proposed this year and five states have rejected them, while none of the others have passed; last year, he wrote, 18 states considered guns on campus legislation and only Texas moved forward with the plan.
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“It’s the students, faculty, and staff who live and work on college campuses who should get to decide something as important as whether or not to allow guns on campus. It’s their voices that should matter most,” said Stipe. “I hope the governor listens to his constituents and does what’s in the best interest of all citizens of Georgia by vetoing this dangerous bill.”
Click here to read Stipe’s entire essay.