NMSU-Alamogordo Stops Allowing Gun Show in Campus Event Center

Good decision or bad decision?

Dr. Ken Van Winkle, New Mexico State University-Alamogordo's interim president, has decided to stop allowing the Alamogordo Evening Lions Club and the Western Frontier Gun Shows to rent out the Tays Center, the school's event center.

Van Winkle stated that there is a no-carry policy for all campuses statewide, and NMSU will support the law. The groups have been hosting their fundraiser gun shows at the event center since 2011 for about $500 a day. There have been 21 gun shows at the Tays Center since then. Van Winkle also stated that no organization will be able to rent the Tays Center or any other facility on the campus if they are selling guns or guns are present at an event.

Here's what Van Winkle had to say on his decision:

"I've decided that it just doesn't make sense to sell guns on our campus. By the way it's not anti-gun. I had a little twinge when the mass shootings happened in Oregon and got another twinge when it happened in Paris. With some legal support from Las Cruces, which is our main campus and my gut feeling. It's just not an appropriate place to have these gun sales. I am going to call it off for now. I think it's just the best thing to do for our campus.

 

This is a change because of what's been happening in the world and we really are a no carry campus. This are being looked at much more closely. This is a good example. Everything's being magnified because of the San Bernardino shootings. All of the tragedies we've had on our campuses, it just doesn't make sense to me that a public institution would host a gun show. It's not about us not supporting those who would like to own guns. I am not comfortable in the Tays Center being a place where we take a stand."

The Western Frontier Gun Shows organizer Eli Calles and  Alamogordo Evening Lions Club member George Elizondo were both disappointed with Van Winkle's decision and that they were aware of the no-gun policy on campus.

"It was with the understanding that the Tays Center was an event center that they carved an exemption based on the use of an event center and not as a college campus slash educational environment," George Elizondo said. "My understanding there was no violation of the policy."

According to the New Mexico state statue, each campus can make an exception and allow gun shows if the university approves of the program. The gun shows at the Tays Center supported the Alamogordo Evening Lions Club. The NRA hosted a banquet at the Tays Center that benefited the4-H Club, the ROTC and the Boy Scouts.

Read more about this on the Alamorgordo Daily News website.