Georgia Supreme Court dismisses challenge to law allowing guns on public college campuses

In this March 2016, file photo, the Georgia Tech campus is shown as the downtown Atlanta skyline looms in the background. (AP Photo/David Goldman)

Georgia’s highest court on Tuesday upheld a lower court ruling dismissing a lawsuit brought by five college professors challenging the removal of public colleges and universities from a list of “school safety zones” where weapons are prohibited.

Before the 2017 amendment to state law, it was a misdemeanor crime to carry or possess a weapon on property or in buildings owned or leased by a college or university. The five University System of Georgia professors who sued over the amendment said allowing the carrying of weapons on campus went against longstanding university system policies.

They argued the amendment was unconstitutional because it infringed on the Board of Regents’ constitutional authority to govern, control and manage the university system. The state filed a motion to dismiss the suit.