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Bill would prevent colleges from banning students carry pepper spray on campus
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BATON ROUGE — A proposal at the Louisiana State Capitol would prevent public universities from banning pepper spray and other chemical sprays on campus.
House Bill 195 comes after a separate proposal that would have allowed guns on campus was pulled back, shifting the conversation to less-lethal options.
The bill would allow students to carry chemical spray for self-defense without bringing firearms into the equation. Some supporters say this approach strikes a better balance between safety and campus security.
"I certainly will like chemical spray better than allowing students to have guns on campus," said Rep. Freiburg.
For many students, the idea of having pepper spray readily available isn't new, but they say protecting that right matters. Noelle-Grace Wirima says it's a simple tool that can make a big difference in how safe students feel walking around campus.
"Something that can be concealed really easily. It's just something you can keep in your bag, so it's just something that gives you that extra sense of security," Wirima said.
She says it's not just about having it but knowing how it can help in a dangerous situation.
"The point of it is to inhibit your attacker or whoever's threatening you so that you have enough time to run away. Call the cops," Wirima said.
Janelle Abarca agrees, saying banning it would do more harm than good. "I feel like it honestly wouldn't make sense for people or college campuses to not allow it just because it gives a safety for women to walk around and have it on them," Abarca said.
Under the bill, chemical spray would still be restricted in certain areas including campus daycares and medical facilities where armed security is already present.
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