HB 1793 is reckless and puts the safety of our students, staff, and the general public at risk by allowing firearms on public university and college campuses without any restrictions. HB 1793 removes public safety guidelines, and it mandates that any visitor, student, or staff member can carry a loaded or unloaded firearm onto campus. Under HB 1793, no place on campus can be restricted from firearms, like dorms, classrooms, or large sporting venues. The bill does not allow for required firearms training, secure storage, or safe handling. This bill undermines the ability of local law enforcement to maintain public safety, and it challenges the autonomy of the University System to do what's best for students, staff, and members of the community. In addition, the burden of costs to mitigate risk, to provide appropriate insurance, and to secure campus facilities will fall on the University, resulting in tuition hikes and potential loss of enrollment.

Unrestricted firearm use and access on campuses is unsafe, dangerous, and deadly. Established firearm policies on campus eliminate confusion and chaos if a dangerous situation arises. In their testimony, The University of New Hampshire Police indicated HB 1793 would hinder an effective response to an active shooter situation by having to divert limited resources to individuals with firearms who are not the actual threat.

HB 1793 has a high likelihood of increasing the number of suicide deaths of our college and university students. In a study by the National Institute of Health, the second cause of death among college students is suicide. A study published in the American Journal of Public Health found that evidence consistently shows that access to firearms increases the risk of suicide. Suicide attempts are often impulsive, occurring within 10 minutes of the thought, and use of a firearm in a suicide attempt is lethal with 9 out of 10 suicide attempts using a firearm resulting in death.

IN CONCLUSION:
We stand in solidarity with students in their pursuit of study and personal growth without the threat to public safety posed by unrestricted firearms on campus.

We stand in solidarity with local law enforcement who have the responsibility to keep our students and communities safe and, like the UNH Police Department and Plymouth Police Department, have publicly opposed HB 1793.

We stand in solidarity with the University System of New Hampshire which is responsible for the well-being of students and staff and has publicly opposed HB 1793.

And we stand in solidarity with the Keene Sentinel Editorial Board, who has opposed HB 1793 and the Town of Durham, which passed a Resolution opposed HB 1793

For the reasons listed above, we urge you to oppose HB 1793.