The debate over whether guns should be allowed in the dormitories and classrooms of Utah college campuses continued on Capitol Hill Wednesday, with college administrators saying the maturity and mental health of students make firearms a potential campus hazard.

College campuses are an amalgam of attitudes, cultures, maturity and life experiences, educators said. But the mix — especially for younger students and those away from home for the first time — can be fraught with conflict and challenges.

"Frankly, young people, conflict and weapons is not a good mix. It's simply not a good mix," Juan Franco, vice president for student services, told the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice Interim Committee.

University administrators also voiced concern about rising levels of depression among students.

"We know that the traditional number of students seeking professional help for depression has doubled on college campuses in the last 10 years and the number of suicidal students has also increased," said University of Utah Vice President for Student Affairs Barb Snyder.

Gun rights activists said educators' plea for help from lawmakers would be more palatable if any of the campuses were in compliance with state law.

"To date, every university and college has a policy in violation of that section of code. It seems to me that until the universities and colleges demonstrate their willingness to abide by the law, it is premature for them to be here asking for changes," said Charles Hardy, legislative director for Go!Utah, a gun owners lobbying group. "What we have here is an overgrown political temper tantrum."

Committee members made no decision but asked university representatives to provide suicide, accidental shooting and other relevant statistics.

The U. has been at odds with lawmakers over concealed weapons on campus since Attorney General Mark Shurtleff noted in a legal opinion that the U.'s policy of prohibiting firearms was a violation of state law. The U. sued and won the right to maintain the policy. Lawmakers countered, passing SB48 during the last legislative session, reinforcing that only the Legislature can establish gun policy. The case is now on appeal before the Utah Supreme Court.

And most campuses have maintained existing policies pending a ruling from the high court.

Brian Judy, National Rifle Association spokesman and Elwood Powell, chairman of the Utah Shooting Sports Council, also noted that Utahns have a constitutional right to protect themselves and that exempting the colleges from state law would be a significant policy shift from existing state law.

"The policy that the universities want to adopt ignores the mandate in the Utah state constitution," Powell said. "(Universities) should not be granted an authority to limit the right of self defense."

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