Concealed firearms law allows guns on Wisconsin campuses -- except where banned

Wisconsin's new concealed carry firearm law will change the way the University of Wisconsin-Superior, Northland College and other colleges handle gun safety.

UWS Public Safety Director Gary Gulbrandson said the law will take effect

Nov. 1 and will allow gun owners with the proper licenses to carry concealed firearms in public, except for where guns are specifically banned.

"That includes K-12 schools, police stations, courthouses and the like. University campuses were not granted the same exemption," Gulbrandson said. "Administration at the University of Wisconsin-Superior is currently working on an administrative policy. As I understand it, it will prohibit the carry of firearms into any building. That would include residence halls and would also include the football stadium."

Gulbrandson said he doesn't expect an upswing in gun violence, but he is concerned that car break-ins might become an issue.

"The university can prohibit firearms from being brought into their buildings, but they cannot prohibit them from being brought into parking lots and left in cars," he said. "They might get their car broken into and the gun could be stolen."

UWS Marketing Director Lynne Williams said in order to prohibit firearms, UWS buildings need to post signs addressing the ban at every entrance.

"They're about 5-by-7 inches, which is the minimum size that we have required. There is a visual on them, which has a crossed-out gun and knife and they say 'firearms and weapons are prohibited in this building.' "

The new law also will affect private colleges. In Ashland, Northland College spokesman David Wahlberg said he is concerned that concealed firearms would be a major distraction in the classroom.

"If our focus is going to be on the quality of education, we want to keep that focus on those activities. The presence of concealed weapons hasn't been connected with improvements in student outcomes. We don't see a reason to permit concealed weapons in classrooms."

Wahlberg said they will be putting up signs at Northland College at all building entrances.