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State legislators and students press Council over campus-carry resolution during public comment
Summary
During Public Comment, state representatives and students urged Durham to reconsider a previous council resolution opposing HB1793 (campus carry) and criticized council decorum; speakers argued for constitutional rights on campus while others raised concerns about spending and governance.
Durham — Several legislators, former representatives and UNH students used the March 2 public comment period to press the Durham Town Council about its earlier resolution opposing HB1793, a proposed campus-carry bill.
State Rep. Sam Farrington (R–Rochester), a UNH student and sponsor of HB1793, told the council that opposing campus carry amounts to stripping constitutional rights and urged councilors to consider the rights of lawful adults. "If a Council passes a resolution condemning campus carry, they are tyrants," Farrington said, adding his view that gun rights are a natural right and arguing that many mass shootings occur in so-called gun-free zones.
UNH student Alexander Fenton said students’ rights should not disappear on campus and expressed disappointment with the council’s prior resolution opposing the bill. State Rep. Michael Granger, a co-sponsor of HB1793, and Shawn Mickelonis, a former state representative from Dover, also spoke in favor of permitting concealed carry on campus and emphasized the duty of officials to listen to differing perspectives.
Some public commenters raised unrelated fiscal concerns and criticized the council’s spending levels; Bruce Fenton told the council he believed residents cannot afford the town’s spending. Chair Joseph Friedman reminded councilors that public comment is not the forum for council debate and thanked speakers for their remarks.
Why it matters The remarks reflected an ongoing statewide debate about campus-carry proposals and showed local political polarization. While the council did not reconsider the prior resolution during this meeting, the comments underscore the political salience of HB1793 in Durham and on campus.
What’s next The council did not act on the matter at the March 2 meeting; public commenters indicated they may continue advocacy through the legislative process and future council meetings.
