Concealed Handguns in College Campuses

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.

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

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

Allowing concealed weapons on campus has been around for several years now. Sides such as, Students for Concealed Carry, who advocate for the right to carry on campuses and the other opposing such thing. Former, Students for Concealed Carry Director, David Burnett wrote an article about the reasons as to why students should be able to carry on campuses. Burnett was the director for the group in 2011, he wanted to get the word out about this cause during his time. Burnett wrote several articles about the reasons to why students should be allowed to carry on campus. Also the websites states, “state-issued concealed handgun licenses should be allowed the same measure of personal protection on college campuses that current laws afford them virtually everywhere else.”(1) Burnett states this into his article because under the new law, only those who have a concealed handgun license would be able to carry. Those with licenses can freely carry in movie theaters, grocery stores, banks, shopping malls and even churches so why should a

In the past years, there have been many cases of school shootings injuring and killing many students. With these cases came the argument of having concealed weapons in schools in order for the teachers or students in college to protect and defend themselves and others when the time came. While some argue that it is the best way to keep everyone safe and how it is our right to bear arms, others will agree that it may just cause more shootings and more deaths. Concealed weapons should not be allowed in colleges, because it will make them available for students who should not have a weapon, having weapons does not mean people are willing and able to use it, and lastly because accidents can occur when least expected.

In the past, there have been several shootings in schools across the nation. However, the students and staffs are questioning should the concealed weapon permit carriers have firearms in their possession on college campuses. Even though concealed weapon permit carriers are protecting themselves from harm by having their firearms; still other people are raising their eyebrows. On the other hand, there are other people who think carrying concealed weapons on campuses will cause more harm and the death toll will rise. As Time. Com writer Josh Sanburn points out that “the shooting at Umpqua Community College on Oct. 1, which claimed 10 lives including the gunman, is by far the worst incident on a college campus this year” (qtd. in Sanburn). Therefore,

In the “Allowing Guns Won’t Make Campuses Safer” article, the president of Drexel University in Philadelphia John A. Fry, who happens to be the author of this article, made plenty valid points to support his point of view. He goes back into recent American history and provides incidents where guns have led to extreme violence. For example, last year a student killed six and injured thirteen near the University of California in Santa Barbara. Another incident was in 2013 when a twenty-three year old shot his father and brother before killing three others at Santa Monica College, and that is just to name a few. Mr. Fry said, “Only in America do we respond to shootings with the need for more guns. Arming college campuses will do little to reduce mass attacks, and will likely lead to more shooting deaths” revealing his stance on guns on campuses and in our country.

Even when there has been ongoing campus shootings around the nation. It raises the question will this help decrease violence or only increase it? The idea of allowing guns on colleges campuses will only make students live in fear whenever they are heading to class or even when they arrive to class. Here are a few statements from administrators stating their viewpoints on the issue of guns on college campuses. A proposal was brought to attention after the shooting at Umpqua Community College October 1, 2015. This proposal stated that college students can have a concealed firearm on campus to make students feel safer when walking to classes (Grzywa, 2). This proposal raised a lot of concerns from schools across the UW System and administrators are hoping that the legislation doesn’t pass. Stout’s SSA President Eric Huse quotes, “I agree with our legislators that student safety is of utmost importance. However, the notion that permitting guns in university buildings will create a safer environment is backward thinking” (Grzywa, 2). Another similar opinion was stated from a man by the name of Sportiello, he said that we need to formulate the best way to create a safe society through careful examination and research instead of making the decision to allow firearms to take over classrooms, workout facilities, and residence

The rules for CHL holder have to follow stated by the Texas Department of Public Safety surrounding concealed handguns licenses on college campuses says it “Authorizes a license holder to carry a concealed handgun on their person while they are on the campus of an institution of higher education in this state. However as stated by the Department of Public Safety the institution establish rules, regulation, or other provisions concerning the storage of handguns in dormitories or other residential facilities that are operated by the institution and located on the campus of the institution. The rules, regulations and provisions are made by the chief executive officer or president. Also under the Penal Code Section 30.06 they are authorized to post a sign stating where the holder may not carry a gun. (New laws for Concealed Handgun License (CHL) program 2015)

Gun Massacres do have an end to them but the steps to end them must be taken before we can say that we will have come close to eradicating the problems that cause gun violence to occur in the first place. Perhaps new policy could include keeping police stationed at strategic points on campus to better respond to threats right when they are called in, or arming security guards better, or perhaps doing random gun sweeps to make sure that no guns are on campus. These things would be more effective than arming, or allowing, an entire student body that could use the guns for anything. However, those opposed may see this as an infringement against gun rights, as Colorado found it recently to be in violation of state law. There is no evidence that says a well armed society is a polite society sans a quote popular amongst right wingers, and in this case it makes no sense to arm a society that would possibly not react in the way that is foreseen, especially if the consequences could be a lot worse than is intended. On the contrary, schools are generally safe areas, as evidenced by the isolated incidents of school shootings. (Rubino, 2012) When the sheer number of schools in the United States is brought into account, and how few gun violence incidents there are, it makes sense not to arm a student body against a threat that likely will never occur within 50 miles of them, an overwhelming likeliness. A gun free campus is

In order for students to be successful in college, they must be responsible. John McNay once said, "There is an assumption that if these people are licensed to carry guns then they will act responsibility and wise with the weapons. But we license people to drive cars, too, and we see people driving foolishly and carelessly all the time" (McNay). This states that there seems to be not much trust in the college students and that they will probably not act as responsible as they should with a deadly weapon in their possession. If the students are trusted to carry a gun, then they should be responsible with that gun in hand. Other factors also come into play when considering whether students should be allowed to carry guns, such as drugs or alcohol could play a role in how students act. Vore once said, "A lot of folks think they're just going to carry a gun ... and just going to pop their head up and confront the shooter and shoot them” (Hulsey). People who have guns often feel like they are strong and are invincible. They often act like they can confront the person when they can't always do that. It isn't safe because the student could easily be shot by the shooter. Shooters are more likely to shoot someone who has a gun than someone who doesn't, so students are just putting themselves in more danger if they have a gun in hand. Students need to be more responsible in knowing when the right time would be to take

People now have to watch their surroundings everywhere they go because of careless or harmful people around them. In 2007 at the University of Nevada, a student was leaving class and a man with a gun attacked and raped her (Wiseman 53). The student would have used the gun as a form of protection to keep the man from raping her. However, the state law in Nevada would not allow the student to carry a gun on campus; therefore, she could not protect herself from the armed man (Wiseman 53). In Texas, anyone over the age of twenty-one can carry a concealed weapon on college campuses (“Guns on Campus…”). Some college students might be over twenty-one, but that does not necessarily mean that they are responsible enough to carry a concealed weapon. In the newspaper article “Guns on Campus…” states, “…Texas and several other states are arguing as they…allow concealed handguns on public college campuses, even if the college officials are adamantly opposed…A proposal with a good chance of passage in gun-friendly Texas…” Legislators in Texas think that since criminals are bringing guns on campuses, college students should have firearms to keep people from attacking the campus. Even though a college student is caring a gun does not mean they are going to keep people from attacking the campus, but the weapon will protect

Education is the first priority in schools all around the country, there are many programs focused on helping students succeed in school. However, what about the safety of students; should this not be a main concern? There have been many devastating school shootings in the past and there has been action taken in hopes to prevent more from accruing. However, Colleges are now allowing students to bring concealed handguns on campus grounds. This is not a way to keep students safe; colleges should not allow concealed handguns on campus.

On 3rd May 2017, it was a normal day at North lake college, the only difference was that it was the last class of ENGL 1301 until the final starts. As the class came to an end and all the students went out looking for different places to hang out because it was only 11:30 am and there was still time for the next class to start. As I came out, I heard three gun shots. At first, I thought it must be something else but when I saw a boy running towards me it made sense of the unusual noise in the campus. I ran to the exit gate but when I saw my classmates running in the class I followed them. We quickly locked the classroom and turned all the lights off. After ten minutes, I got a text message from my friend Monica that intruder is on the campus and one girl is already dead. When I saw the expressions of my classmate they were all scared because it seemed like a hostage situation. I kept receiving text messages from my family and