ISU cancels AR-15 order

Idaho State University is canceling its order for 11 AR-15 rifles after reconsidering its December decision to purchase the guns.

The university placed the order for the equipment back in August in an effort to better equip campus safety officers in the event an active shooter were to come onto campus.

Associate Vice President for ISU Facilities Phil Moessner said they convened with Pocatello Police, Idaho State Police, and other law enforcement agencies to be counseled on what sort of equipment would be necessary to deal with that sort of situation. But upon further thought, ISU eventually decided to nix the purchase.

“We realized that by the time we were to contain the situation, PPD, the SWAT team, or other folks who are better-trained at that particular part of that operation would be available, so it seemed redundant to the other capabilities we are capable of in the community,” Moessner said.

He said if they were to have purchased the equipment, only the licensed on-campus officers would have been allowed to have them in their vehicles or back at the station.

Moessner added, canceling the order will also save the university money in both the cost of the equipment and the training.