I was at the University from ‘79 to 82. Did’t have a permit but carried a Hi Power fairly often. Also generally kept a shotgun or rifle in my truck depending on if it was deer or turkey season.
I was taught to handle firearms from the time I was 7 yo and taught about gun safety from the time I was born. When I was in high school my friends and I usually kept a rifle or shotgun in our vehicles so we could go hunting for an hour or so after school. Maybe kids have changed but using and understanding firearms is not rocket science and all kids should be trained in their safe use.
It’s maybe only a coincidence but I don’t recall there being many school shootings back then. Of course, we didn’t advertise that our school was a “Gun Free Zone”. What idiocy. As a matter of fact our principle was an ex county cop and we all assumed he had access to a weapon. I know for a fact that several teachers did.
Whoa! ROLL TIDE! Were you ever in army ROTC? That was the big then. Most of the fraternity and sorority folks did it to keep their gpa's up and to learn to rapell off the tower down near Paty Hall.
Know how I got my ccw permit? I went down to the police station and the chief of police walked out into the blazing sunshine and he walked round and round me as I stood there with heels locked at attention in my army fatigues. So he finishes his inspection and CLAPS me on the shoulder, he says:
I reckon YOU'LL DO, BOY! Jest don't KILL nobody who don't deserve, killin' hear? That was that. I think I paid $5 for a three year permit.