The Shootings On 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.

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.

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.

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 United States of America, there is a rising epidemic happening and its gun violence and the violence will not only rise, but triple if guns are permitted on college campuses and inevitably cause a ripple of issues. With several campus shootings, the most fatal being in 2007, the shooting that occurred at Virginia Tech University, a number of states are pushing harder to consider legislation about whether or not to permit concealed guns on college campuses and to obliterate the existing firearm regulations. This is not Colleges and Universities purpose; they’re for learning and experiences and amongst other things, not about guns. Students and faculty should not be allowed to carry firearms onto college campuses, firearms are illegal on most campuses, and that is how it should remain. In 2015, the number of colleges and universities in the United

Students walk college campuses thinking of homework, friends, social happenings, but rarely thinking about their safety. Students on college campuses are defenseless against an armed assailant because an armed assailant can shoot and harm many students in a short time before the police arrive. There are opposing views about allowing concealed weapons on college campuses, and the debate has been making news lately with the number of school shootings and people getting killed and injured rising. According to Robert Birnbaum in The Magazine of Higher Learning, “More Guns advocates argue that college students and faculty should be able to carry weapons for their own protection, particularly since history has shown that colleges can’t protect them from assailants” (Birnbaum 7). For students to properly defend themselves against armed assailants, they should be allowed to carry concealed weapons on campus.

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 college campus in United State should prohibit carrying concealed guns for students’ safety. Because people rarely arm themselves for deter criminals, the responsibility should be left to official police rather than normal citizen. In addition, carrying concealed gun not only cause fear among non carrying population, but also cause higher risk of being killed or injury since criminals can legally holding concealed guns. So until the government published a more deliberate and suitable policy, the government should rethink about the consequence of permitting concealed guns, and have reaction towards the potential threat. For now, we’d better prohibit concealed guns on campus for students’ self security

Out of all of the school shootings that happen a year, there are at least two a month. School shootings can happen anywhere at any time, like preschools, high schools, elementarys. This is why teachers and students should carry concealed weapons. Teachers and students should be able to carry weapons because it is a way for self-defense, protection, and safety. As can be seen, teachers and students should be allowed to carry on college

Since the beginning of public education, there have been heinous crimes on the campuses of the schools. These crimes have taken place everywhere, from Columbine High School all the way to a classroom on the Virginia Tech campus. To be more specific the most devastating crime that can take place on a collegiate campus is a mass shooting. So, with more and more states beginning to allow those who possess a conceal carry permit, to carry at more places throughout the state. The question is asked, should college campuses allow students to carry a concealed handgun, while attending class. Some will say that there are already solutions in place; but, these solutions are not effective. The answer is yes, allowing students to carry is the only way to deter mass shootings on a college campus. Now some may ask, “What exactly is concealed carry?” Furthermore, more restaurants and places of work are beginning to allow employees and customers to enter with their concealed weapon. With the crime rate on the rise at most college campuses, campuses should consider allowing students to carry concealed weapons to deter crime.

“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.

Few issues are capable of terrorizing Americans like a shooting on a college campus. Each time, any possibility of debate is drowned out by sensationalized media coverage. There are two polarizing opinions. One argues that responsible, concealed weapon carrying citizens could have prevented the loss of life. The other blames the proliferation of firearms as the primary cause of the violence. Perhaps this powerful rhetoric led our legislature to allow campus carry on our campus, Texas State University. This dichotomy of opinion will be explored through a thorough examination of handgun carrying, Texas policy, and academic research on the topic.

The question of whether guns should be allowed on a college and university campus in the United States reflects the tension between two different viewpoints. One major concern deals with the safety of the students. Many people have suggested that both the students and teachers should be allowed to carry concealed weapons on campus, due to all the recent disturbance of violent crimes on campuses. Those that are for this may claim that their rights have been violated because of the many colleges that refuse to allow weapons of any kind on their campus. The debate is not the right to carry a gun, but whether or not guns should be allowed on a college campus. The Second Amendment provides United States citizens the right to bear arms. By living in the south for 19 years, I can truly say that I have seen a gun before, but I do not think it is appropriate for guns to be in areas such as a college campus. There are already too many guns being available to the public, and allowing them on a campus would only increase the chances of people being injury or even death. As stated before, Americans have the right to bear arms, and this should always be protected but not taken away or limited. However, for those who choose to carry a concealed weapon should be applied stricter firearm control and gun control should be done by having a strict qualification process before and the permit is issued, serious mental and emotional evaluation of the person applying for a gun permit or a firearm,

Recent polls conducted across the United States surveying students about concealed weapon carry laws show that almost eighty percent of students oppose the concealed carrying of firearms on school campuses. Only five percent of students said they believe that carrying firearms on campus would prevent school shootings or other violent acts relating to carrying guns on campus (Book 22). Overall, the majority of American students oppose concealed carry laws and are concerned about the safety of themselves and or others if they attend a school that allows concealed carrying. Lately, the debate over whether or not concealed carry laws should be allowed or not on school campuses has slowly been disappearing. If so many students across the United States are concerned about firearms on their own school campus then, therefore, the rest of the U.S. should be too. Currently, many states allow each school to choose if firearms should be allowed on their campuses, however, firearms should not be allowed at all in schools across the United States. There are more possibilities for firearms to have a bad impact rather than a good impact on campuses including increases in crime and theft, concerns of safety, and the possibility of firearms being stolen and used. The most important concern about allowing guns to be carried on campuses is, of course, the safety of the students, teachers, administrators, and visitors. Firearms in the hands of students or anyone else on campus endanger everyone

In 2004, a new law came into place in Utah where students were able to carry a concealed gun onto a college campus. Many people who support the law believe that this law is “crucial” to self-defense and that it upholds constitutional rights. Due to recent state legislation and court rulings, 10 states now permit the carrying of a concealed gun on college campuses. Texas became the 10th state to allow their students to have a concealed weapon on campus, for example the University of Texas at Austin allows any student over the age of 21 to carry a concealed gun into a classroom. Many students, faculty members, and myself believe that allowing guns on a college campus is actually making it less safe for students, teachers, and other people on the campus.