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Hamline University: Student Suspended after Advocating Concealed Carry on Campus

Hamline University suspended a student after he sent an e-mail suggesting that the Virginia Tech massacre might have been stopped if students had been allowed to carry concealed weapons on campus. Student Troy Scheffler was required to undergo a mandatory "mental health evaluation" before being allowed to return to school. Scheffler was suspended without due process just two days after sending the e-mail.

Case Materials

• "FIRE Launches New Video Series With Short Film on Censorship of Gun-Related Speech," June 30, 2010: Today, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) is proud to release a new short film, "Empty Holsters: Gun Speech on America's Campuses," highlighting widespread campus censorship of student speech about guns. The film is the first in a new FIRE series focusing on how colleges and universities across America are preventing students and faculty members from speaking out on the weightiest political issues of the day.
• "FIRE Letter to Hamline University President Linda Hanson, November 7, 2007," November 11, 2007
• "Hamline University Student Suspended After Advocating Concealed Carry for Students," October 10, 2007: Hamline University has suspended a student after he sent an e-mail suggesting that the Virginia Tech massacre might have been stopped if students had been allowed to carry concealed weapons on campus. Student Troy Scheffler is now required to undergo a mandatory “mental health evaluation” before being allowed to return to school. Scheffler, who was suspended without due process just two days after sending the e-mail, has turned to FIRE for help.
• "E-mail from Troy Scheffler to Hamline University President Linda Hanson, April 19, 2007," October 10, 2007
• "E-mail from Hamline University President Linda Hanson to Troy Scheffler, April 20, 2007," October 10, 2007
• "E-mail from Troy Scheffler to Hamline University Vice President of Student Affairs David Stern, April 17, 2007," October 10, 2007
• "Letter from Hamline University’s Attorneys to FIRE, September 28, 2007," October 10, 2007
• "FIRE Letter to Hamline University President Linda Hanson, September 17, 2007," October 10, 2007
• "Hamline University Dean of Students Alan Sickbert’s Notice of Suspension to Troy Scheffler, April 23, 2007," October 10, 2007
• "Hamline University President Linda Hanson’s Response to FIRE, June 11, 2007," October 10, 2007
• "Hamline University’s Freedom of Expression and Inquiry Policy," October 10, 2007
• "FIRE Letter to Hamline University President Linda Hanson, May 29, 2007," October 10, 2007

Media Coverage

• "Why can't students say 'guns' in school?,"
  by Glenn Garvin, Miami Herald, April 21, 2009
• "Loss of free inquiry on campus betrays liberal legacy,"
  by Jason Steck, The Van Der Galiën Gazette, October 24, 2007
• "College Admins: If you favor Second Amendment rights, you must be crazy,"
  by Jon Sanders, Town Hall, October 17, 2007
• "Minnesota College suspends student for advocating gun rights,"
  by Joe Murray, The Bulletin, October 15, 2007
• "Student advocates gun rights, gets suspended; Church-affiliated university to require mental evaluation before return allowed,"
  , World Net Daily, October 11, 2007
• "Banning guns (and opinions about guns) in college,"
  by Brian Doherty, Reason Magazine Hit & Run, October 11, 2007
• "Grad student suspended after pro-gun-rights e-mail,"
  by Declan McCullagh, CNETNews.com, October 10, 2007