📡 Greg Sankey says SEC members will ‘decline opportunities’ to play in Mississippi if pending gun law passes

[BAMANEWSBOT]

Greg Sankey made the SEC’s official position on a potential new Mississippi gun law very clear on Wednesday.

According to a letter Sankey wrote to the leadership of Mississippi State and Ole Miss on Wednesday, league opponents likely “will decline opportunities” to play at each school if proposed gun legislation turns into law for the state of Mississippi.

Sankey’s issue is with proposed House Bill 1083, which could allow for concealed weapons to be carried inside Rebels and Bulldogs sporting venues. According to a report from CBS Sports’ Dennis Dodd, the bill passed in the Mississippi House by a vote of 80-29 but it still must pass vote in the Senate to become state law.

Here’s a look at his letter, which was sent on Wednesday and subsequently publicized by Ole Miss chancellor Jeffrey Vitter via the school’s official website:

“Dear President Keenum and Chancellor Vitter:​

​

This letter is in response to proposed House Bill 1083 and its potential to introduce concealed​

carry weapons into stadiums, arenas and other college sports venues.​

​

The University of Mississippi and Mississippi State University are founding members of the​

Southeastern Conference and each has established a long history of working with public safety​

officials to provide a safe environment for intercollegiate athletic competition.​

​

Given the intense atmosphere surrounding athletic events, adding weapons increases​

meaningful safety concerns and is expected to negatively impact the intercollegiate athletics​

programs at your universities in several ways. If HB 1083 is adopted to permit weapons in​

college sports venues, it is likely that competitors will decline opportunities to play in Oxford​

and Starkville, game officials will decline assignments, personal safety concerns will be used​

against Mississippi’s universities during the recruiting process and fan attendance will be​

negatively impacted. When similar laws have been introduced in the past, the SEC office has​

received clear statements of concern from our member universities due to safety concerns​

associated with the passage of such laws intended to allow weapons at our athletic events and​

sports venues.​

​

It is our desire to see athletic events and sports venues exempted from proposed House Bill​

1083.​

​

The SEC’s universities work closely with public safety officials to ensure the safety of participants​

and fans in our competitive venues. We will continue to closely monitor the status of House Bill​

1083. In the event House Bill 1083 becomes law and includes concealed carry in college sports​

venues, the SEC’s Presidents and Chancellors will consider existing SEC regulations and bylaws​

to determine appropriate modifications to scheduling, safety and officiating policies.”​

​

In a letter to address the university’s stance on the proposed change in law, the Ole Miss chancellor expressed concerns of his own.

“If this bill were to pass, it would negatively impact the University of Mississippi’s ability to continue to uphold the safety and security for our students, faculty, staff, patients, and visitors on all our campuses — the Oxford campus, our regional campuses, and the University of Mississippi Medical Center,” Vitter wrote.

 

[TUSKtimes]

Sounds like Mississippi and Miss State will have to play the egg bowl about 12 times a year.

 

[TerryP]

Sounds like Mississippi and Miss State will have to play the egg bowl about 12 times a year.

That would require Sankey being a guy that has some stones. There are members of the SEC that have basically told him to go to hell on a few decisions he's made and he's been even weaker on some of the decisions he has made.

 

[50+yeartidefan]

I think this classic...remember when Birmingham tried to buy a miss state home game for legion field...
Msu n the Landsharks can auction off their home games...classic stuff...
They can be the home game at BD.....or elsewhere in the sec...or play at the ga dome or super dome....
Ole ms can play in memphis...not to far...
What the hell is the ms legislature thinking....

 

[TUSKtimes]

That would require Sankey being a guy that has some stones. There are members of the SEC that have basically told him to go to hell on a few decisions he's made and he's been even weaker on some of the decisions he has made.

So you think this could possibly have a different outcome than the state of Arkansas?

 

[BamaMD]

SMH, this sh!t is getting out of control. There will always be an argument for and against, but good lord. This is a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[planomateo]

Honestly, I have a problem with him interfering with state laws.

 

[Destiny's Child]

The people who are licnensed to conceal carry are the guys you want to have guns in the stadium. This is none of his business as a SEC football commissioner and he should exit the conversation.. it isn't up to him

 

[CmnRef]

I wonder what Homeland Security’s take is on this. When you can not take a bottle of water or opaque bag into an event, how can you rationalize this law. I am a firm believer in State’s rights but this will not fly. The liability issues alone would preclude the implementation of this legislation.

 

[sean]

i wonder if he's aware how many firearms are carried on each of the 14 sec campuses on a daily basis?

most likely he's not.

he's messing with something that gun rights advocates feel VERY strongly about. and their voice is pretty dang loud.

 

[TUSKtimes]

i wonder if he's aware how many firearms are carried on each of the 14 sec campuses on a daily basis?

most likely he's not.

he's messing with something that gun rights advocates feel VERY strongly about. and their voice is pretty dang loud.

I'm going to predict that Mississippi lawmakers are going to follow the same course as Arkansas when it's all said and done. SEC football and sports, in general, will matter most when it comes to conviction.

 

[EtheBamaFanatic]

Sounds like Mississippi and Miss State will have to play the egg bowl about 12 times a year.

:rolf:

 

[TerryP]

So you think this could possibly have a different outcome than the state of Arkansas?

I have no idea because we're talking about two different states with two different legislatures. And, that's not bringing in the fact we're talking about the state of Mississippi which, or who, isn't likely to listen to what people are saying about their decisions.

The biggest thing that bothers me about all of this is comparable to the last election in Alabama. There was a lot of money coming into the state to support the "ant-Moore" crowd and after the election I've seen those same people, people living outside of the state of Alabama, address newly elected Jones and criticize him for making the decisions and voting he's made--for the state of Alabama.

Now, we're looking at people outside of the state of Mississippi trying to tell them what to do? If Sankey lived in, or was a native of, Mississippi I can see him voicing his opinion. But, he doesn't. So, I can't. It's none of his business in my opinion.

 

[TUSKtimes]

I have no idea because we're talking about two different states with two different legislatures. And, that's not bringing in the fact we're talking about the state of Mississippi which, or who, isn't likely to listen to what people are saying about their decisions.

The biggest thing that bothers me about all of this is comparable to the last election in Alabama. There was a lot of money coming into the state to support the "ant-Moore" crowd and after the election I've seen those same people, people living outside of the state of Alabama, address newly elected Jones and criticize him for making the decisions and voting he's made--for the state of Alabama.

Now, we're looking at people outside of the state of Mississippi trying to tell them what to do? If Sankey lived in, or was a native of, Mississippi I can see him voicing his opinion. But, he doesn't. So, I can't. It's none of his business in my opinion.

My comments have more to do with recent events in North Carolina and Arkansas. Two different parts of the country and certainly different politics to consider. The one similarity is sports. I was personally batting .500 on the issues myself, as far as interest was concerned, but the long arm of the NCAA was the hammer that brought both to the same conclusion.

 

[EasyTider]

 

[BamaFan334]

What ended up happening with Arkansas? Did they pass the carry bill we spoke about on here before?

 

[TerryP]

What ended up happening with Arkansas? Did they pass the carry bill we spoke about on here before?

The sweeping gun legislation passed by the Arkansas legislature earlier this year became law on Friday, but don't start packing heat to school just yet. The permits required for "enhanced carry" of firearms in sensitive areas such as college campuses aren't yet available, and won't be for some time.​

​

Originally intended to cover colleges and universities only, House Bill 1249 grew in scope and ambition to include courthouses, bars, churches and the state Capitol, following heated public debate and intense lobbying by the National Rifle Association. It creates a new class of enhanced permit for concealed carry license holders who complete a separate mandatory training, the details of which will be determined by Arkansas State Police. The standards can't require would-be permit holders to take more than eight hours of training.​

​

'Enhanced carry' bill becomes law, but implementation is months away

 

[TerryP]

BTW, there was an amendment added (or will be added, something like that) where it won't be a "law" in place like mental health hospitals, etc.

I do find it interesting how football games are the events being pointed out with these laws. That's what, 12 events in Mississippi per year (when it comes to SEC schools?) I'm wondering how many people have been killed at football games in the state of Mississippi. I wonder if it gets on the nerves of fans in attendance at these games when they consider how they are being characterized.

 

[planomateo]

I'm wondering how many people have been killed at football games in the state of Mississippi.

Dare I say...not enough?

 

[We All Bleed Crimson]

My only concern is when that one game (highly intense) begins to create an enormous amount of frustration and someone cracks. It only takes one time. Some kid or coach or ref may suffer the consequences. This is the first that I've heard of this, so forgive me if I haven't had time to process it yet. I believe in our 2nd amendment rights ( I have a collection myself), I'm just thinking about some situation that wouldn't happen but 1 in a million games, but IF it did happen.... help me out here folks. I don't think that the SEC (or any external organization) should be trying to dictate Mississippi state law. They are free to make suggestions, sure. But I understand the concern that other conference members might have with the situation. There was a recent situation at a South Carolina-Missouri women's basketball game where the Missouri staff and players said SC fans were spitting and either throwing ice or water on them as they exited the arena. (btw, SC denied any evidence of it happening, I don't know which school is right.) In the Clemson-South Carolina football game this past season, SC fans were absolutely throwing bottles at the Clemson players, that was seen on the TV broadcast. My point is that it would be tragic if an enraged fan did something really stupid that caused serious injury or death.