Sponsor of 'campus carry' stands by bill

ATLANTA - Just one day after the governor weighed in on the controversial 'campus carry' bill, the sponsor of the legislation said he stands by it.

"We've been talking about this very intensely for four years," said Rep. Rick Jasperse, R-Jasper. "We've had umpteen committee meetings and listened to people from all over the state and this is the best we think we can do." 

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In a statement late Monday, Governor Nathan Deal called on lawmakers to make changes to the proposal.  He specifically cited concerns about dual-enrollment students, on campus daycare centers and potentially giving school governing boards some say over whether guns can be carried into faculty offices or disciplinary hearings.

"Those concerns were voiced toward the latter part of the debate on the bill," Governor Deal said Tuesday.  "I just felt like that they needed a little bit more thorough look and hopefully there will be an opportunity for the house and senate to do that."

Some have questioned Deal's timing on the issue.  With just three days left in the 2016 legislative session, House Speaker David Ralston, R-Blue Ridge, suggested the governor should be specific about what he would like to see changed.

"Time is of the essence.  I am sure his team will forward specific recommendations to allow adequate time for consideration," Ralston said in his own statement.

Deal said he would be reluctant to draft language for the bill, but would be willing to work with lawmakers on the changes.

"I have expressed my areas of concern and I think if they ask for my help in that regard, which the Speaker maybe is doing that, I'd certainly be willing to participate in that," he said.

The governor admitted, however, that his concerns relating to joint enrollment students may be tough to legislate away.

"That is the more difficult of the issues I mentioned in terms of figuring out how do you do it and it may not be possible to actually totally shield them from that, but we are protecting them as long as they are in a K-12 setting," Deal explained.

The legislative session ends at midnight on March 24.