A bill before the Maine Legislature would give Maine public colleges the authority to ban weapons from school grounds, an idea a few Lakes Region legislators oppose.

Sen. Peggy Rotundo, D-Lewiston, filed L.D. 1000 before the Virginia Tech shooting, but the murders have drawn attention the issue. The bill would not affect private colleges, but would affect the University of Maine System, Maine Maritime Academy and community colleges throughout the state.

“Many of these campuses have policies that are totally outdated,” said Sen. Bill Diamond, D-Windham. He said the bill could affect hunting rifles and people who drive though open campuses like the University of Southern Maine with weapons in their vehicles.

The University of Maine currently allows students to drop firearms off at a secure building on the edge of campus, while USM’s Gorham campus does not allow guns anywhere.

Diamond said he would like to see a more thorough discussion on the issue, and cautioned that sharp objects and tools in vehicles would violate the bill as it’s currently written.

“We need to make sure we know what we’re doing before we allow the state to say, yes, you have our blessing,” he said.

“I don’t think we should move to make guns prohibited on campus,” said Rep. Richard Cebra, R-Naples. “I always err on the side of liberty and people being able to protect themselves.”

Cebra said Virginia Tech had banned all firearms from its campus before the shooting, and gunman Cho Seung Hui simply ignored the policy.

“I think what happens is we take an isolated incident and try to react, and when we react we make bad laws,” he said. Cebra said the ban would also keep Maine teachers and professors from being able to protect themselves with guns.

“The worst mass murders have happened in gun-free zones,” said Rep Gary Plummer, R-Windham. While he said he doesn’t support the ban, he thinks it should be up to the schools and not the Legislature.

“Frankly, I think they have the right to make their own policies,” he said.

Rep. Mark Bryant, D-Windham, said it’s too early for him to take a stance on the bill.

“I can’t make a judgment based on emotion,” he said.