A 19-year-old student at the University of Memphis was arrested on suspicion of carrying a firearm on school property.
The student was allegedly caught with a revolver in his car at the Lambuth campus Monday, according to a U of M Campus Police Services report written by Officer Jeffery Ealy.
According to the report, an anonymous tipster told campus police a student brought a gun onto campus and left it in his car.
Officer Ealy went to the Lambuth parking lot at about 9:45 a.m.
According to his report, Ealy saw a gun in “plain view” inside a blue Mazda.
Police found the owner of the vehicle, a 19-year old student named Zachary Tucker, according to the police report.
Tucker was unavailable to comment on the allegations.
Police allegedly asked Tucker “if he had a carry permit,” according to the police report.
“His reply was that he was 19 years of age and did not have a permit,” the report said.
Tucker was arrested and taken to jail. He was charged with a felony and could face disciplinary action from the U of M.
In Tennessee, it is illegal to carry a gun on school property.
The University of Memphis has a strict policy when it comes to bringing weapons on school property.
Bringing guns on to campus is a highly divisive topic coming out of 2015 after what seemed like a wave of mass violence.
While some student groups would like to see legal gun carrying on college campuses, the U of M has a strict no guns on campus policy that many school officials fully support.
“Firearms in the hands of untrained (or minimally trained) individuals can lead to bad decisions and tragic consequences,” said Bruce Harber, the chief of police and assistant vice president for administration on Feb. 3. “We have a zero tolerance stance on weapons on campus and we think that has been a factor in our low crime rates in the last seven years.”
In Tennessee it is illegal to bring guns on to campus, however, many students would like that to change.
Beginning on Aug. 1, students at any public junior college in Texas will be able to carry a concealed firearm on campus.
“As a college student, I believe that I should be given the same responsibility as any adult citizen in regards to self-defense,” said Texas Christian University student, Kelsey Olohan on Jan. 19. “Not only because of my age and standing with the law, but because the law would punish me the same way as any adult for any crimes committed.”
The U of M does not plan to follow in Texas’ footsteps.
Due to the high number of deadly college shooting across the country in 2015, the University of Memphis held crisis preparedness and response seminars for faculty and students.
During the seminars faculty and students were taught how to react if there was an active shooter of threat on campus. Faculty and students were taught the “Run-Hide-Fight” protocol.
“It was very well received,” Harber said.
Some students are uncomfortable with the idea of other students carrying guns on campus.
When Carlton Hubbard, a junior exercise sports science major heard about the incident on Lambuth, he did not feel at ease.
“I wouldn’t feel safe on campus if I saw that,” said Hubbard. “It makes me think the same thing can happen here.”
