In today’s society it is legal to have a Concealed Weapons Permit (CWPs). With this legalization the question has been raised if students on college campuses should be allowed to carry a weapon on school property. Based on the research that I have conducted I feel that allowing CWP’s on campus will keep colleges safer because of the many dangerous situations that seem to arise when guns are around. According to the article, The Numbers on Arming College Students Show Risks Outweigh Benefits it states:
“ On January 4th, 2012, a student at Weber State University in Utah was carrying a handgun in his pocket when it accidentally discharged, wounding him in the leg. On September 3rd, 2014, a professor at Idaho State University accidentally shot
Michael Newbern’s overarching topic in his article is that gun should be allowed at college campuses. Students should be learning their courses without any worry of being unsafe. He stated that college campuses are known to be safer than other locations. However,
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.
Although eight states have passed provisions allowing concealed weapons on public campuses and several other states allow campuses to decide if they are allowed, instead colleges should take a holistic view and approach to provide a robust security program, safety training, communication network and guidance on behavior awareness for faculty and students. As States continue to pass campus carry laws the colleges continue to funnel the majority of their focus dedicated to passing the law. This has eroded and overshadowed the end result, which is to protect students and faculty. Campuses should not allow students to carry guns on campus. By providing this false sense of security it dilutes the opportunity to implement tools, train and provide strategies to improve campus safety.
Firearm deaths are second in deaths in the United States only behind car accidents. “Our Hearts Are Broken” was the headline after the massacre of Sandy Hook elementary. 20 young children were killed in this viscous attack but the death toll was 27 including faculty and staff. The truth is that school shootings are becoming more common and occur pretty often. These enraged students carry out plans of mass murder is simply freighting. With faculty able to carry concealed firearms on school property the benefits will out way the negatives instantly. According to deontology carrying a concealed weapon on campus is ethical because there will be more protection provided and a massive decrease in casualties involving shootings, but also a decrease in occurrence in non-weaponized violent acts.
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.
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.
In the Second Amendment in the Bill of Rights the founding fathers of America gave us the right to bear arms for self-defense. Although everyone in America has the right to own a firearm, you must have a concealed carry permit in order to bring a hidden handgun into a public area. Through people carrying concealed handguns we can reduce violent crimes.
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
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus. Debate over permitting or restricting the concealed carry of a firearm on college
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
In ancient Greek society, women were thought of as punishment for Prometheus’ theft of fire from the gods. “Prometheus, a demigod and thcreator of first men, steals fire from heaven and brings it to earth. Furious at being deceived, Zeus devises the supreme trick in the form of a ‘gift’ to men . . . Pandora” the first woman (Holland). This myth set the standard for women being treated unequally in ancient Greek society.
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.
“Colleges and universities occupy a special place in American society. They are much more than a series of buildings and collection of individuals. Instead, they are dynamic living and learning environments where individuals with varying levels of maturity interact, often under stressful circumstances. While recognizing the right of responsible individuals to possess firearms under other circumstances, the unique characteristics of a university campus make the presence of firearms problematic. The shootings that have occurred in recent years at US colleges and universities have generated passionate debate about how best to prevent such violence and whether persons should be allowed to carry concealed guns on campuses. Experts believe there is no credible evidence that students or staff carrying guns would reduce crime. In fact, research has shown that the brains of most college students have not fully developed regarding impulse control and judgment” (Dickerson). Therefore, guns should not be allowed on college campuses because it would lead to an escalation in violent crime, distract from the learning environment, and lead to accidental discharge incidents.
Throughout my life I am a part of numerous groups and in those numerous groups my position varies. In some groups I may be a leader and in others I tend to be quiet. A group that I am a part of is the Field Hockey team at Renbrook School. On this team my role is the one and only goalie. I think that this puts me in a leadership position along with the fact that last year I was and will continue to be one of the older members of the team.
Should public-service workers have the right to strike? After all, they are humans that work jobs and deserve a fair amount for their services. But, what would happen if there were no police around nor firefighters to do their job? Things would obviously be a mess. You have to weigh these options and figure out which one is more important. Should we make public-service workers do their jobs even if they are working under a poor conditions or hardly getting paid to feed their families, or should we let them strike over their own benefits and let the area become a complete wasteland? I am here to say that public-service workers should not have the right to strike for more benefits.