2008 Woodie Awards
Universities consider concealed-carry laws
Pamela Acosta
Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: News
After the North Illinois University and Virginia Tech shootings, college students must not only worry about the rising cost of tuition or whether they failed their math tests, but also whether their campuses are safe.
This need for safety has some people advocating permission to carry concealed weapons on campus, which is not permitted at the UA.
Supporters argue that "carrying" could help stop shootings on campus before they escalate.
If something were to happen and a person with a weapon was there, the aggravator could be stopped before he managed to do more harm, said Travis Robinson, member of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, a nationwide organization advocating guns on campus.
"VT had great police enforcement and the UA does too, but they're going to respond in two or three minutes, when an armed citizen can respond in two or thee seconds."
Apart from increasing the feeling of safety, allowing people to carry guns on campus acts as deterrence, he said.
"Students should have the right to defend themselves like everybody else," Robinson said.
Utah is the only state that allows concealed weapons in public universities, according to a Feb. 28 CNN.com article. The University of Utah in Salt Lake City prohibited firearms until the ban was struck down by the state Supreme Court in late 2006.
And while school officials fight to reinstate the ban, state legislators are considering a bill that would modify the law and allow people in Utah - including students - to carry loaded weapons openly, according to the article.
At least 13 other states are considering some sort of concealed-carry legislation aimed at college campuses, according to the National Conference on State Legislatures.
Noting the potential accident or misuse of guns, the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement does not endorse concealed carry on campus, according to a March 8 article in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
This need for safety has some people advocating permission to carry concealed weapons on campus, which is not permitted at the UA.
Supporters argue that "carrying" could help stop shootings on campus before they escalate.
If something were to happen and a person with a weapon was there, the aggravator could be stopped before he managed to do more harm, said Travis Robinson, member of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, a nationwide organization advocating guns on campus.
"VT had great police enforcement and the UA does too, but they're going to respond in two or three minutes, when an armed citizen can respond in two or thee seconds."
Apart from increasing the feeling of safety, allowing people to carry guns on campus acts as deterrence, he said.
"Students should have the right to defend themselves like everybody else," Robinson said.
Utah is the only state that allows concealed weapons in public universities, according to a Feb. 28 CNN.com article. The University of Utah in Salt Lake City prohibited firearms until the ban was struck down by the state Supreme Court in late 2006.
And while school officials fight to reinstate the ban, state legislators are considering a bill that would modify the law and allow people in Utah - including students - to carry loaded weapons openly, according to the article.
At least 13 other states are considering some sort of concealed-carry legislation aimed at college campuses, according to the National Conference on State Legislatures.
Noting the potential accident or misuse of guns, the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement does not endorse concealed carry on campus, according to a March 8 article in The Philadelphia Inquirer.
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 9
David Smith
posted 4/11/08 @ 10:23 AM CST
Statistics indicate that in Arkansas, there's a small fraction of people who---ARE POLICE. The likelihood of one of those people being in the right place at the right time is slim
T.
posted 4/11/08 @ 10:35 AM CST
I have my concealed carry permit, and I don't think this article fairly covers everything that is required to get one. I had to go to a class with a licensed instructor for 8 hours. (Continued…)
Stu Strickler
posted 4/11/08 @ 12:12 PM CST
Concealed carry laws can save lives. Fourty eight states have concealed carry laws. You can carry in most public places, why not a college campus?
While Police do a good job, they are minutes away, when seconds count. (Continued…)
Texas Freeman
posted 4/11/08 @ 3:52 PM CST
Isn't it funny? The university, businesses, federal government, and state governments are all claiming that thier rights are MORE important than thier citizen's and student's rights! The state claims they are disarming the students and citizens to PROTECT them, but then don't protect them. (Continued…)
Woodpiggie
posted 4/12/08 @ 3:10 AM CST
Anticarriers:
Passage of this will not increase the number of guns in society. It will merely add to the number of physical settings in which screened and tested law abiding citizens can keep and bare a significant disinsentive to criminal attack. (Continued…)
Not a trained killer
posted 4/14/08 @ 9:46 AM CST
I'm sorry, but I think this is appalling. I am not willing to kill another individual, even if my life depended on it. What is this? The wild west? I mean, I am not "dogging" anyone who wants to carry a gun, but I just don't want those people in my life, and if the University were to allow concealed weapons on campus, that just makes me think that a lot more people are willing to kill than we think. (Continued…)
pewpew
posted 4/14/08 @ 10:54 PM CST
i always kind of thought anybody willing to man up enough to want to stop a gun wielding maniac doesn't need a gun to do it. this is not about saving lives when seconds count, its about guys stroking their egos. (Continued…)
T.
posted 4/15/08 @ 3:16 PM CST
To "not a trained killer" and "pewpew". I am not overly anxious to have to use my gun, however, if it comes down to me or the other person, then I want to give myself every chance I have to make it home to my husband at the end of the day. (Continued…)
Jerome
posted 1/02/09 @ 12:31 PM CST
This isn't about ego or bragging rights because a person carries a gun. The whole point is to even the playing field. It's already been pointed out that almost all mass shootings take place in gun free zones. (Continued…)
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