Controversial Campus Carry
Since the first day of August in 2016, some college students in Texas have been able to enter the classrooms with guns. The state's controversial "campus carry" law allows students who are at least 21 years old and who have a concealed handgun license to carry their guns at all public colleges and universities(Lee). Although the law was controversial and against by a huge amount of people, republican lawmakers who pushed through the “campus carry” law had said it could prevent another mass shooting(Herskovitz).
University of Texas at Austin is the flagship institution of the University of Texas system. Also, it is famous for its academic achievement and high reputation among the national public universities in the
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history(Jervis). It might not be the main reason to push the law to be published, but as a memorable event in the past, the shooting had definitely played an essential role in strengthening safety measures on campus.
Referring to the history of S.B. 11, in this blog, “The Secret History of the Campus Carry
Movement”, Weinstein stated that the movement to legalize campus carry was born in the wake leave space
Dong 2 of the deadliest mass shooting at a university in U.S. history. On April 17, 2007 — one day after
Virginia Tech student Seung-Hui Cho systematically shot and killed 32 people and injured another 17 before turning one of his guns on himself — college pupils in several states formed students for Concealed Carry on Campus, as the group was originally called. Before then, no one had seriously pressed for arming college students and professors (“The Secret History”). The gathering of students with concealed carry on campus made the authorities realized it could be more dangerous for the whole students if nothing essentially was changed. Campus Carry meant no more threats to most students, on the contrary, it made them feel safer to carry weapons in a concealed way. According to lawmakers, the purpose of campus carry is to allow
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Although the authority claimed that it would be less limited for the eligible students to carry guns on campus, there existed some other regulations. According to Texas Department of
Public Safety:
It is authorized that a license holder is allowed to carry a concealed handgun on or about the license holder’s person while the license holder is on the campus of an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education in this state. In addition, open carrying of handguns is still prohibited at these locations. An institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education in this state are authorized to establish rules, regulation, or other provisions concerning the storage of handguns in dormitories or other residential facilities that are owned or leased and operated by the
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Furthermore, the president or other chief executive officer of an institution of higher education in this state are required to establish reasonable
While the debate and argument over the carry on campus law continues, more and more concerns are surfacing about the jeopardy it could put our nation in. Are students even mature enough for the handling of weapons? Students are not to be trusted with guns and college campus should stay a gun-free zone. Carrying a gun in general requires responsibility that people of a young age sometimes tend not to have. The handling a firearm and a lack of responsibility within a person can be a very dangerous situation. Judgement and maturity of such a young group are things to consider when thinking about the carry on campus law and a student’s capability to make smart choices when handling a weapon can’t be trusted.
In addition to youth and gun crimes, much debate has sparked over whether or not college officials should allow students to carry concealed weapons with them on campus. Renee Montagne has interviewed many people, college students included, in her article, “Texas Lawmakers Aim for Guns on College Campuses” About their opinions of guns on campus. Many disagree, stating that it is a terrible idea, and will lead to gun-related accidents, or mass killings, like the one that took place at Virginia Tech (Texas Lawmakers). Some people, such as Stephen Wright, point out the fact that by simply carrying a legally weapon does not cause mass killings or
Concealed carry and college campuses are two major topics currently in the media, yet these two topics are rarely used in unison, until now. The topic of whether or not concealed carry should be allowed on college campuses is a now mainstream debate with multiple views and numerous differentiating opinions. Many of the general public question if campus police is capable enough to protect a university’s enormous student body? Another commonly discussed issue is if concealed handguns actually do deter crime, and if they are capable of aiding in stopping a mass shooting spree? Or if guns on campus, carried by fellow classmates would make students as a whole feel more cautious or on the opposing hand make students feel more secure with guns carried on campus? If guns are allowed on campus, how will this affect a growing student’s ideology? These questions and many more are highly spoken of in our social media based generation, the answers to these questions help to improve our knowledge on this debate of concealed carry on college campuses, which will lead us to form our own individual opinions on this debate topic based on the facts and evidence presented.
This same technique is used later in the article to emphasize the fact that many college students use mind altering substances such as drugs and alcohol; and that adding firearms, concealed or not, would add a new variable to possible suicides and intra-student violence. In addition to all of these statistics, the author also uses reason to make the point that college classrooms are places where you should be able to speak freely and without fear of possible retaliation. The author feels that if students do not know who may or may not have a concealed weapon on them, they may be less likely to speak their mind and learn all that they can.
With backpacks in tow and pencils in hand, college students crisscross campus with stress of acing the test, hardly thinking about their safety. This was the case on a clear Tuesday at the University of Texas on September 28th, 2010. Students fled from a mask gunman carrying an AK-47 and shooting randomly around campus. Nineteen-year-old Colton Tooley, wearing a black mask, eventually killed himself in the library. Remarkably, no one else was injured or killed. (MSNBC) This was not the case in 1966 when 16 people where killed with 32 injured by a gunman in the UT clock tower. The debate still wages on to allow concealed guns to be carried on college campus in Texas despite a recent bill that failed to pass. The US Constitutional Second
During the month of January 2013, Carlton Berry was accused of opening fire at Lone Star College. He was accused of shooting two people before wounding himself in the leg. Even though it came to be known in the course of the investigation that it was really not Carlton Berry who was involved, but Trey Foster, the question arises as to whether guns should be allowed in colleges. This lone incidence that happened at Lone Star Community College reflects the April 16th, the year 2007 where there was a shooting on the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute along with State University. In this incidence, a student by the name Seung-hui opened fire on unsuspecting scholars killing approximately 32 people and wounding many others before he
Every student should feel safe when stepping foot on campus, but allowing concealed handguns on campus grounds brings forth fear and doubt. A new Texas state law allows license holders to have concealed handguns in college buildings and classrooms. I firmly believe in the second amendment, which provides the right to bear arms: this means that everyone has the right to protect their selves, families, and land. However, I stand completely against the new state law (which moves into effect in Aug. of 2016) that is allowing license-carrying gun holders to carry their weapons to and from classes in universities. With this ruling moving closer into effect, many faculty members and college students are now realizing the dangers that this will bring forth. This bill was passed to help protect and defend students from possible school shooters, but in reality, it only jeopardizes the safety and trust of many students and faculty members.
August 1 marks the day which the state’s new Campus Carry law was enacted. This law which comply with Senate Bill 11, has authorized a licensed holder to carry concealed handgun at University of Texas at Austin and other public universities in Texas. The implementation of this law have risen controversy between the stakeholders which are the faculty members, students, parents, staffers and alumni. In regard to this, President Fenves has assigned a Campus Carry Working Group to guide the implementation of Senate Bill 11 which complies the law and at the same time ensuring the safety of the campus.
Since 1966, there have been 127 events in which four or more people were killed by a lone shooter. Since 2015, 52 of those 127 events have been school shootings; twenty-one being at colleges and universities, fifteen at high schools, three at middle schools, ten at elementary schools, two at preschools, and one on a school bus. On August 1, 2016, Texas Senate Bill 11, also known as Campus Carry, became a law allowing people with a concealed handgun license to carry concealed handguns in permitted areas on college campuses. Continuing to allow college students and faculty to carry concealed handguns on campuses is likely to make colleges, like Texas State University, overall better and safer.
them to maintain a generally gunfree campus if they choose. For example, if a campus banned
parking lot with their hands over their heads and searched them before they were bused with faculty to the nearby county fairgrounds, where counselors were available and some parents waited for their children” (Barnard). Less people would have died if students were not allowed to carry concealed weapons on campus. Because guns in school cause violence.
(2016, February 17). University of Texas approves campus carry: how the state forced its hand. Christian Science Monitor. p. N.PAG
College is a time of rapid change in a young person’s life, it can be many things but most importantly it is a time where students start to truly grow into their academic abilities. All students deserve an equal chance to grow in a safe learning environment, but this is not always possible as our culture has become more violent in recent years. Campus carry laws will allow law abiding citizens to protect themselves in a sacred institution, which has seen significant rises in violence in recent years. Not every tragedy is preventable, but allowing a person who has a permit to carry their weapon at school can prevent future massacres.
Have you turned on the news lately? The fight against and for guns on campus its once again in the spotlight. Right here is Arizona, at present, the carrying of firearms, whether concealed or otherwise, is banned on most college campuses. However, several groups, including some organized by students, have recently campaigned for changes in university policy to allow students to carry firearms on college property. “””” Recently Student Government at ASU’s Tempe campus created the survey Jan. 27,2016 to get students opinions on whether they support concealed weapons on campus, the survey was regarding House Bill 2072, sponsored by Rep. Sonny Borelli (R-Bullhead City) would allow students and faculty to carry concealed weapons on college campuses. The survey conducted of 659 ASU students that found roughly 69 percent for wanting to vote yes on this bill which would allow concealed and carry on college campuses”” (Kimbel-Sannit).
Imagine it being the first day of your college life, and you’re pumped for your freshman orientation. You’re walking with the crowd of strangers just looking for an empty seat in the auditorium. Everything is ready, the projector with the presentation is in front of you, the crowd starts to quiet down as the presenter steps into the stage. As she’s about to introduce herself, you hear a loud gun shot to your right. Chaos erupts and everyone runs for their life. You try to hide behind a chair as you hear more gun shots getting closer and closer. You notice that other students are also carrying guns, and you soon find yourself in a battlefield. You’re there wondering how this all started. How was it all possible when schools are supposed to be one of the safest places? There is only one answer. Allowing guns into learning environments can cause great damage to students. This is why guns should not be allowed in college campuses.