Posted on 04/18/2007 2:02:53 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
The deadly shooting rampage at Virginia Tech on Monday has reignited an emotional debate about whether students should be allowed to carry concealed weapons on campus.
Virginia Tech, like most universities around the country, forbids students from having guns on campus. But as an increasing number of states have passed laws that allow people to carry concealed weapons, gun advocates from Virginia to Utah have also challenged the academic policies that prohibit weapons at colleges and universities.
[Big Snip]
"Almost every college that has looked at this issue feels they can do a better job of protecting their students by banning guns on campus and taking responsibility to provide good security," says Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence in Washington. "I'm not sure any campus would like to advertise, 'Come to our campus. We have more guns per capita than any other campus.' "
When the issue is debated again as expected this year in Virginia, gun-control advocates will be lining up with members of the academic community in opposing an expanded presence of guns on campus. They believe the problem is that the country already has too many guns.
"We have access to these weapons, and there are people who get angry, and with that access they will use them," says Jim Sollo, vice president of Virginians Against Handgun Violence, a group with 800 members that advocates gun-control measures. "I fear that we will continue to have mass shootings here in the United States."
But gun advocate Mr. Van Cleave contends that control is not the solution. "Gun control only works with the good guys," he says. "Good people obey the laws. The people you're worried about don't. I don't think [the campus shooting] is going to bode well for gun control."
(Excerpt) Read more at csmonitor.com ...
For good reason... Carrying concealed is a lifestyle decision, not a choice of jewelry. Considering whether to carry on any given day's outing means taking on a lot of procedures and habits college students aren't accustomed to, and so it becomes a practical decision based on an assessment of the risk. If the assumed risk is low, most wont. As that perceived risk grows, more may decide it's worth the hassle.
What nonsense. I throw my carry piece on the same as my cell phone. It’s absolutely not an issue to me. I’ve been carrying for 6 years now. I’m aware, but it’s not like it’s some ‘omgzzzz ohh noes, I got a gun!’ thing at all.
It just takes a little bit of preperation to make sure it’s really concealed and in a good holster.
It’s not nonsense. I’ve been carrying as I felt I needed to for 19 years.
Then why should anyone over 21 have to consider it that much? Just pack it. If you can pass the classes and shooting requirements, it shouldn’t be a big deal.
I hate the stigma people attach to guns. And you seem to have it as well.
If you won’t acknowledge that choosing to carry a concealed weapon in a classroom situation does carry a certain responsibility to do it right, then you aren’t helpful to the debate. It’s not a cell phone. It either has to be on your person, which is difficult to conceal in what most college kids wear, particularly in summer, or secured, not in a backpack you can set down and walk away from, even for a moment. Did you read my post 96?
Do you have a problem with students (or any adult) that are over 21 and passed the CHL requirements from carrying in a classroom?
Why, then, do you support a candidate for the GOP nomination who took guns away from thousands of legal NYC permit holders? Who pushed for stringent handgun regulation? More federal gun control laws? Who sued gun manufacturers, saying they created more guns than needed for legitimate purposes - purposes he defined as hunting and law enforcement, not personal self-defense?
That pretty much sums it up for me.
You just underminded your own case. The guy didn't obey the law anyway regarding his gun. Criminals don't. All gun bans on campus do is restrict the law-abiding and careful citizen from being able to defend himself. You have to be an upstanding citizen to get a carry permit.
All those with common sense will answer, Yes.
All those who are stuck on stupid will answer, No.
Your conclusion is correct, but your premise shows how far the brainwashing has reached. The framing of the question reveals that, as with many things today, the default assumption is the power resides in the State. The proper question is Should the State be allowed to restrict law-abiding, adult American citizens (who have no mental health restrictions) from legally carrying concealed weapons?
People LEARN responsibility. It isn't something that just "happens" with age. Treating young ADULTS like children will ensure they require a Nanny to get them through life.
This isn't what we want.
As it was, everyone there was following your policy. Everyone was disarmed. Even the teachers. Except one. That was all it took.
No, I don’t have a problem with anyone carrying. I just understand the practical implications of actually pulling it off in a classroom without the gun becoming a distraction (being seen) or a theft risk (in a backpack) and becoming a classroom and school management problem.
And FWIW, I live in WA, where there is no instruction or training required to carry concealed. Just have to be 21.
Thank you Hair for your reasonable response. Never mind you may agree with me!
Glad I’m not the only 1 with this conclusion tended to.
Still waiting to have my head bitten off like it was on that 4/16 thread....
Well, you obviously don’t think that 21 year olds are responsible enough to actually conceal a gun.
That’s a shame. I believe they are. I’ve carry concealed in places where people would get on me, bigtime, if they knew. It’s just not that hard.
I don't have a policy, I just voiced some practical considerations that need to be considered by anyone who might want to actually carry. Stop treating me like the enemy for a minute and acknowledge what I'm saying.
You obviously can’t read and respond like a rational person.
Amen to that one. A trio of “Second Amendment Sisters” might have cut this guy in half long before he had a chance to mow down 30 people!!
The Sheeple getting used to seeing people walking around going about their daily business with an openly carried firearm would negate your "distraction" concerns.
After all, police and other officials openly carry firearms and no one panics. If half of the people I work with showed up today with a variety of cowboy rigs, high rides, IWB's, and shoulder holsters, I'd be absolutely delighted.
Don't perpetuate the fear.
Fine, no talking to you then. I don’t see any problem with responsible adults that have passed the legal tests with carrying anyplace.
I do have a problem with unguarded (without metal detectors even) gun-free zones. To me, that’s far far worse than having tested adults carrying in classrooms.
Sorry if you can’t discuss the matter.
The same people who created that policy for Virginia Tech in the first place.
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