The Volokh Conspiracy - Professor Files Complaint With Police Based on College Student's Class Presentation in Favor of Concealed Carry:

From The Recorder (Central Connecticut State University):

On October 3, 2008, [John] Wahlberg and two other classmates prepared to give an oral presentation for a Communication 140 class that was required to discuss a "relevant issue in the media". Wahlberg and his group chose to discuss school violence due to recent events such as the Virginia Tech shootings that occurred in 2007.

Shortly after his professor, Paula Anderson, filed a complaint with the CCSU Police against her student. During the presentation Wahlberg made the point that if students were permitted to conceal carry guns on campus, the violence could have been stopped earlier in many of these cases. He also touched on the controversial idea of free gun zones on college campuses.

That night at work, Wahlberg received a message stating that the campus police "requested his presence". Upon entering the police station, the officers began to list off firearms that were registered under his name, and questioned him about where he kept them.

They told Wahlberg that they had received a complaint from his professor that his presentation was making students feel "scared and uncomfortable"....

Professor Anderson refused to comment directly on the situation and deferred further comment.

"It is also my responsibility as a teacher to protect the well being of our students, and the campus community at all times," she wrote in a statement submitted to The Recorder. "As such, when deemed necessary because of any perceived risks, I seek guidance and consultation from the Chair of my Department, the Dean and any relevant University officials." ...

It's hard to evaluate these stories without knowing more about the details of what the student said and how he said it, especially if the call to the police is just a request to investigate, rather than an outright complaint in the sense of an allegation of a crime being committed. (The story says "complaint," but it's not clear how precisely the term is being used.) If the presentation was indeed simply advocacy of concealed carry, then the police investigation sounds quite heavy-handed, and the professor's worry based on the student's political views on the subject sounds unjustified. If something was said that gives a reasonable person some reason to worry, then some level of inquiry would indeed be sensible. Still, the story seemed worth passing along — please let me know if any of you have more specific information on the subject.

Thanks to Paul Hsieh, who has more thoughts on the subject, for the pointer.

	[Eugene Volokh, February 28, 2009 at 12:53pm] Trackbacks Professor Files Complaint With Police Based on College Student's Class Presentation in Favor of Concealed Carry: From The Recorder (Central Connecticut State University): On October 3, 2008, [John] Wahlberg and two other classmates prepared to give an oral presentation for a Communication 140 class that was required to discuss a "relevant issue in the media". Wahlberg and his group chose to discuss school violence due to recent events such as the Virginia Tech shootings that occurred in 2007. Shortly after his professor, Paula Anderson, filed a complaint with the CCSU Police against her student. During the presentation Wahlberg made the point that if students were permitted to conceal carry guns on campus, the violence could have been stopped earlier in many of these cases. He also touched on the controversial idea of free gun zones on college campuses. That night at work, Wahlberg received a message stating that the campus police "requested his presence". Upon entering the police station, the officers began to list off firearms that were registered under his name, and questioned him about where he kept them. They told Wahlberg that they had received a complaint from his professor that his presentation was making students feel "scared and uncomfortable".... Professor Anderson refused to comment directly on the situation and deferred further comment. "It is also my responsibility as a teacher to protect the well being of our students, and the campus community at all times," she wrote in a statement submitted to The Recorder. "As such, when deemed necessary because of any perceived risks, I seek guidance and consultation from the Chair of my Department, the Dean and any relevant University officials." ... It's hard to evaluate these stories without knowing more about the details of what the student said and how he said it, especially if the call to the police is just a request to investigate, rather than an outright complaint in the sense of an allegation of a crime being committed. (The story says "complaint," but it's not clear how precisely the term is being used.) If the presentation was indeed simply advocacy of concealed carry, then the police investigation sounds quite heavy-handed, and the professor's worry based on the student's political views on the subject sounds unjustified. If something was said that gives a reasonable person some reason to worry, then some level of inquiry would indeed be sensible. Still, the story seemed worth passing along — please let me know if any of you have more specific information on the subject. Thanks to Paul Hsieh, who has more thoughts on the subject, for the pointer.