A student group will try to convince the University of Colorado regents this week to loosen the university's gun-control rules.

Currently CU is a "gun-free zone" and will not even allow people with handgun permits to bring a weapon onto campus.

But the Boulder chapter of the Students for Concealed Carry on Campus argues the ban translates into a potential security threat.

"Self-defense is basically outlawed on campus right now," said Jim Manley, Boulder campus leader of Concealed Carry on Campus.

Formed soon after the April 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech, the group argues school schootings are often to easy for the shooter, who knows weapons are prohibited at school.

"But the one person that did have a gun, look what he did with it. So, I don't think that anyone should be acrrying guns around school with them," said freshman Samantha Rutishauser. I don't think that the campus is so dangerous that you need to carry a gun."

Wednesday morning at 10:00 a.m. the Concealed Carry supporters will present some 400 signatures collected this April on the C.U. Boulder campus and another 211 collected from students and staff at C.U. The Springs at the Colorado SPrings campus.

It is simply a public hearing with no action planned.

"Nothing (else). It isn't even at the stage of somebody offering a resolution, which it would take," said Regents Chairman Steve Bosley.

Bosley says he has not spoken with fellow Regents about the issue but has heard about it from students.

"Had a female student from Boulder call me two years ago.... said you're depriving me......and when I leave the campus at 1 a.m. in the morning to go into the city of Boulder, you've deprived me of my right to protect myself. That's an emotional, logical argument," Bosley said. "Times are changing. Are they changing to the point where that would be acceptable?"

Supporters look forward to taking their shot.

"Well it's great that the Regents have demostrated an interest in the issue and that they've show that this is an important issue that the CU community is concerned about," Manley said. "Hopefully it shows that they're willing to consider a change to their policy."

The group is sponsoring a petition that argues: "Gun-free zones have proven ineffective. Criminals do not respect gun-free zones any more than they respect human life. Gun-free zones only disarm victims."

The CUPD said it favors the gun ban and told the Boulder Daily Camera allowing gun-permit holders to have weapons on college could be chaotic.

Eric Mote, a spokesman for the student group lobbying for gun rights, told the Camera he will present the petition to the Board of Regents.

Republican regent Kyle Hybl from Colorado Springs said he is interested in the presentation, but he’s not sure whether it’s an issue the regents will take up.

“I think safety and security of students, faculty and staff is always on the forefront of our minds,” Hybl told the Camera.

Regent Michael Carrigan, a Denver Democrat, said he is opposed to allowing guns on campuses.

“As someone who has served in law enforcement and has firearms training, I don’t think having students carrying guns on campus will make us a safer place,” Carrigan said.