A University of Kansas professor urged students in his class to not bring guns “wherever I am present,” in a syllabus, even though state law requires the school to allow the concealed carry of handguns.
“Although you may be entitled by law to carry a gun, I urge you not to do so,” professor Eric Rath wrote in the syllabus for the online course, “The Samurai.”
Rath does not want firearms brought to class, however, he also requested students to not bring them “wherever I am present.”
“When I am trying to focus on helping you to do your best work, I do not want to worry about whether you might react by pulling a gun on me, or whether you might have an improperly secured weapon in your belt or bag,” the description said. “If you do not carry a weapon, you cannot be tempted to use it in a moment of frustration.”
Any mention of carrying a gun that is not related to reporting to authorities or significant danger counted as “bullying” and “is inherently threatening, aggressive, intimidating, and coercive,” the syllabus said. (RELATED: Federal Court Rejects Campus Carry Challenge)
Pictured is the University of Kansas syllabus requesting students not to bring guns. Screenshot/ Neetu Chandak
The professor also provided students with gun facts at the end of the syllabus from the Giffords Law Center to Prevent Gun Violence, a policy center that pushes for stronger gun laws. The organization has worked with gun control measures in California along with other places.
“Claims that guns are used defensively millions [of] times every year have been widely discredited. Using a gun in self-defense is no more likely to reduce the chance of being injured during a crime than various other forms of protective action,” one of the facts from Giffords said, according to the syllabus.
Rath no longer meets with students in his office for consultation because he does not feel safe allowing visitors since the university’s conceal and carry policy went into effect on July 1, 2017. He does offer meetings over email and Skype, though students who wish to meet with Rath must meet in a public or secure location of the professor’s choosing.
Individuals over the age of 21 and who are lawfully eligible may carry a concealed handgun on campus, with exceptions for specified restricted areas. Individuals must also abide by federal and state restrictions including those related to mental health, under the influence of substances and citizenship status to name a few.
Rath was unable to provide comment as he only discusses course policy with registered students in the class, he told The Daily Caller News Foundation.
TheDCNF reached out to the University of Kansas for comment, but did not receive a response in time for publication.
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