In the wake of recent shooting tragedies on school campuses, UCAPD Project Manager Arch Jones said the university is confident current safety policies are effective. Legislation has been introduced in the Arkansas legislature that would allow faculty and staff with a concealed carry permit to bring their guns to work. The bill, introduced by District 76 State Representative Denny Altes (R), went to the State’s House Education Committee Jan 29. Jones said UCAPD does not support the right for students, faculty and staff to carry concealed handguns. “It is the UCA Police Department’s position that guns on campus would detract from the healthy learning environment on our campus and create additional risks for our students,” he said. Junior Lydia Dillon, UCA College Republicans president, said the recognized student organization supports the right for legally licensed citizens to use guns for self-defense. “Without means of self-defense, our campuses become easy targets for potential violence,” she said. UCA Young Democrats President freshman Jared Lareau said the solution to reducing gun violence is not allowing more guns. Jones said UCA has constantly assessed and adjusted policies and procedures based on lessons learned nationwide from tragedies that have involved school campuses, including the 2008 UCA shooting that resulted in two deaths. Efforts to prevent gun violence include increased training for safety officials, the Behavioral Intervention Plan, the Emergency Operations Plan, which was developed and approved in 2012, and tabletop exercises to demonstrate hypothetical scenarios.