Concealed Campus Carry Research Paper

There is much controversy over whether or not students should be able to bring guns on college campuses. The new law, to be implemented in the year of 2016, gives students ages 21 or older to carry concealed weapons on campus. The thought of the new law puts fear in the hearts of some Americans when thinking about the safety of themselves or loved ones. While the bill has been passed, allowing guns onto a college campus should not be allowed.

One of the major heated issues with gun control has been the legislation of concealed carry on college campuses. According to Weeden’s (2017) article, “Guns on Campus,” Arkansas and Georgia have already passed bills to allow students and faculty to carry guns on campus. I can understand why states are doing this due to the amount of school shootings that have been occurring

Due to the recent upheaval of violent crimes on campus, many pro-gun activist have suggested that both the students and teachers should be allowed to carry concealed weapons on campus. Those for this may claim that their rights have been violated because many college campuses refuse to allow weapons of any kind on campus. It is not the right to carry a gun which is in debate here, but rather it is whether or not guns should be allowed on a college campus. The Constitution of The United States of America already grants citizens the right to carry guns, and being in the south, I am by far no stranger to seeing a gun from time-to-time, but it is not appropriate for guns to be in a vulnerable area such as a college campus. There are already too many guns available to the public, and allowing them on an educational facility would greatly increase the likelihood of injury or death. Americans, as previously mentioned, have the right to bear arms, and this should be held sacred, and not infringed, taken away, or limited. However, stricter firearm control should be implemented for those who chose to carry a concealed weapon, and gun control should be done by having stricter certification processes before a firearm or gun permit is issued, intensive psychological evaluation for the person or persons applying for a gun permit or a gun,and greater educational requirements for gun owners and firearm safety.

Guns and schools just don’t mix. Of course, this could be arguable from both sides. Only nine out of our fifty states allow guns on campus. Most private universities have the choice to decide if they want to allow concealed weapons on campuses. As for public institutions with the law in its state, they have no choice. Public institutions only have control of what buildings are limited. There are numerous reasons that it could be beneficial, but it can also be a complete catastrophe just waiting to happen. In today’s society, people feel the need to be more protected because of what’s going on in the world. There have been many reported incidents in regards to guns being abused on school grounds. Guns end lives, so it’s imperative that we understand the rules and why they’re so important. In order for people to really understand the pros and cons of having guns on campus, they first must began to understand its safety hazards, retaliation and prevention mechanism.

Allowing guns on campuses has to be one of the most absurd solutions conceived to regulate safety. Firearms have no place in the hands of staff and students on campus. The idea is totally blown out of proportion because many universities actually considering concealed carry believe the impact will be less crime and more safety, but what exactly does it mean to allow a weapon on college property? People that are for campus carry argue that those with a firearm will be able to defend themselves against any incident that is bound to happen, but what happens when they pull out a gun? How will students, staff, or law enforcement react? Guns on campuses are not a good idea due to the fact students aren't fully mature enough to carry a weapon, they will become inhibited in

and is commonly drawn into political debates and has become a political tool for winning elections. Some states have already voted and taken action on this new idea and have allowed staff to carry guns on campuses and in cars parked and locked in secure parking lots. Another major idea that is constantly brought up with campus carry and firearms on campuses is student

In 2007, 32 students and teachers die after being held at gunpoint on the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University by a student, Seung Hui Cho, who attended the school later on dies from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. In all 27 students and 5 faculty members died. I really think that guns shouldn't be allowed on college campuses at all because it will cause a distraction from the learning environment, would lead to an increased number of suicides by college students, a gun might go off by accident, most college students are too young to carry a concealed handgun license, and school shootings don't happen that often and college campuses are very safe so, therefore, there is no need to carry a concealed weapon on a campus.

“Your rights shouldn’t change as you step on campus…” Crayle Vanest, Students For Concealed Carry states. If you have your concealed licenses permit you should be able to carry your firearm onto campus. I see college campuses being extremely vulnerable to mass shooting because of the lack of firearms. It is argued that college students would be dangerous if they were allowed to conceal carry on campus, and it would be more of a risk. In my opinion campuses would be safer if students were legally able to conceal carry. In order to have a conceal carry licenses you have to go to class to obtain that. If a student is of age and has their conceal carry licenses permit they shouldn’t be limited to certain places that they are able to carry their

It seems that tragedy and violence across America are becoming all too common in our daily news. Even more tragic is when it is at a school. With the increase in violence across America, it is opening the door to the question of should college campuses allow concealed guns on campus? Allowing concealed guns on campuses is something that may come true at public colleges across Georgia. Recently, the Georgia senate passed a bill by 37-17 that would allow gun owners 21 and over to carry concealed weapons on public college campuses. If Governor Nathan Deal approves the bill it will go into effect (The Associated Press). While some feel this could potentially open the door to more violence, others believe this will give them the ability to protect themselves should the need arise.

Concealed carry permits are not easy to get. Every state that offers concealed carry permits requires that each person first pass a background investigation. These investigations usually take about one month to complete, and require fingerprint, criminal, and psychological background checks to find if an individual has a history of mental illness, criminal record, or fingerprints involved in a crime. After the background investigation is complete, the individual must complete a firearm safety and concealed firearm training course. This course covers not only the safe handling of firearms, but also covers the legal aspects of a persons right to use a weapon in their own defense. Students and faculty already in possession of these permits, have demonstrated they are responsible for their actions and have sufficient training so they won't pull out a gun just to show it off. These people know that carrying a concealed weapon is for self-defense, should only be brandished as a last resort, and comes with added responsibility and consequences if the need arises. Any person that chooses not to accept these additional

One of the largest barriers for firearm carriers is the fear of them causing panic; this panic is caused by other civilians being afraid if they see that they are carrying and mistake them for an armed assailant. Awareness to all students and faculty that campus carry is in place will keep this from happening and will allow more firearms advocates to be willing to carry. People who already legally conceal carry would not be afraid to continue that practice if there are no laws stopping them. One example of a regular carrier being a victim due to them following the law of no campus carry is Amanda Collins. Amanda, a student of the University of Nevada, was raped on campus and could do little since she was not carrying like she usually does(Summers). This incident and others could easily be stopped if campus carry were in place and known to all whom it might affect. Awareness to the general public that concealed carry is allowed would also have a high chance of deterring crime. The truth is that signs that say “no guns allowed” is not going to stop a criminal since with their nature they break the law(Burnett). States that implement concealed carry laws have reduced several different crimes by up to 8.5 percent(ProCon). Criminals want easy targets and knowing that the person they choose to attack may be able to defend themselves with an easy means of defense such as a gun that deters them from those areas. All of these points lead to the end goal of students and faculty feeling safer and it is a fact that up to 59 percent of people who carry a gun because it makes them feel safer(ProCon). The feeling of safety not only occurs for those who carry but those who know that anyone could be there with a gun to assist or save them should the occasion occur. Colleges are dangerous places with no

The decision for college and university campuses to allow their students to carry concealed weapons on campus is a risky debate that one should disagree with. A numerous amount of unfortunate events that have a chance of happening would result as a train thought if the decision was made. Various public schools below college level have been publicized throughout the years to have been involved with shootings, threats, or suicide with arms that were sneaked onto campus discretely, or exposed through a rageful manner fired at random innocent individuals. College level, there is already a majority of students that are above the age of eighteen or twenty-one, both ages having the legal privilege to purchase a weapon. This would increase a caution

The signing ceremony for the bills is scheduled for Saturday, June 13th. Gov. Abbott’s decision

Allowing concealed weapons on campus can also prevent casualties and injuries in the event of a mass public shooting. According to Smith “Between 1977 and 1995, the average death rate from mass shootings plummeted by up to 91% after such laws [right-to-carry concealed handgun laws] went into effect, and injuries dropped by over 80%.”

The arguments against open carry on campus follow the same lines as arguments against concealed carry on campus. Since open carry as a whole is a relatively new subject in the debate about gun control, the statistics used will have to be from the concealed carry studies. While these are two different things, they are fundamentally the same. The major arguments are that it will increase crime, that the gun could go off on accident and injure someone, a person could also snap and go on a killing spree, and that there is no need for guns as police already carry and protect the school. The first argument to look at is that it will increase the crime rate on campus and in the surrounding areas. According to a peer-reviewed study in the Econ Journal Watch, “shall issue” laws saw an increase in aggravated assaults between 1977 and 2006. A paper by the National Bureau of Economic Research also found, between 1977 and 2010, an increase of 2% in murder rates in “shall issue” states. Criminals are more likely to carry a gun when they think a potential victim could have one. This is according to a survey of incarcerated felons by the Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research in which 75% of the felons agreed with this mentality.