This post discusses the possibility of guns being allowed in Texas Universities. The bill would only allow students to carry a handgun on campus if they are 21 or older and licensed to carry a concealed handgun.
If the law passes is it right that private universities could opt out?
The last statement in the article:
“Yet, when it comes to gun-related incidents, we seem to think that putting more guns in the mix will lead to a good, rather than bloody outcome,” Ellis said
Is Sen. Rodney Ellis right? Technically, I think it would be a bloody outcome either way. But at least an armed student would have a better chance of walking out alive if they had a gun (and trained) than they would by throwing a book at the gunman.
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hotstories/6432279.html
Chris Carson
It only takes one Virginia Tech tragedy to get a person thinking about the need for protection against a gun toting, deranged person and start asking, "What if?" I pray that I am never in a classroom, unarmed in a situation such as that of a Columbine or Virginia Tech. In fact I pray that no one ever has to go through such a tragedy ever again. However, putting more guns on campuses would not necessarily make the campus or the persons carrying the guns more safe.
ReplyDeleteIn many ways that would only help make the campus be less safe. Too many accidents happen and when you throw extra firearms into the mix you are asking for unnecessary heartache. Not to mention the stress level that college students are under. Who knows what could happen? Not trying to make light of the above mentioned tragedies but I think you would have more of a chance of getting hit by a drunk driver than shot on a campus. Again, I pray for the student’s families of those tragedies and hope that those tragedies are isolated incidents. I think a better solution would be to improve campus security and exit plans in the event something like this should ever happen again. So yes, private universities should have the right to opt out.
I agree with most of what the above post is saying. Statistically, getting hit by a drunk driver is much higher. The chances of a student encountering one of these situations is slim. With that said I am not making light of any past tragedies, with my heart and prayers going out to those families. But we do see from time to time plots that are broken up to cause violence in schools.
ReplyDeleteIf we just let students go through the basic requirements to obtain a concealed handgun license in Texas, this would in no way prepare them for an armed assailant let alone one in a crowded classroom. I also believe that most 21 year olds are not mentally capable to deal with the decision making needed to handle, carry and protect oneself with a firearm (minus the military members we well train to server our country). I think if they do pass the gun law to carry in universities that greater controls and training would be required to actually allow for someone to carry on the university. If anyone has gone through the Texas concealed handgun course you would know that the course is not about firearm safety, shooting technique or proficiency. It is about the law. Yes they require you to shoot a target but that in no way would proper you to carry in a university. Nor do I believe it really prepares you to carry successfully anywhere. Police officers have to qualify with a specific weapon within a time limit of seconds and typically qualify yearly or bi-yearly. And some police departments perform other stress inducing techniques to simulate real world situations during the qualification. I think if someone wanted to be able to have extended rights to care in “privileged places” that they would have to go through similar training and yearly qualifications to keep their rights in these privileged places.
One reason I am for allowing guns in universities goes back to the above post. Most schools are not physically designed for safety in these situations. Think of the layout of most schools. Long hallways, rooms with one door, open areas and control points that I think were designed more for keeping people in than out (yes I know about the fire codes). If you are in a classroom and someone walked in, even if you had a gun and are well trained the odds will be against you. But I would have to argue that the odds would be a little higher if you were on the same playing field. For me I would always prefer my ability to protect myself than for someone else to protect me.
With most issues in life I would prefer looking at the root cause and trying to fix that. Why are people committing these tragedies? What mechanisms can be put in place to limit the chances of these incidents from becoming tragedies? If we could fix the root cause then this should be a non-issue. But there is no such thing as 100% secure and as the conservative think “People are Scum”.
I think private universities should have the choice to opt out. I think this would be a good compromise, if they pass the law, people that are anti-gun or just against the new law could pick a university that prohibits the carrying of concealed weapons.
What about the teacher’s ability to carry in the classroom?
Chris C
I disagree with guns allowed in Texas Universities. More guns on college campuses only leads to a huge blood bath. If guns are allowed it should be by the professors and not the students. What role do the police officers or security have in regards to protection? The thought is frightening if the bill passes.
ReplyDeleteAnyone that wishes to carry a gun and is willing to complete safety training to have one should be allowed to carry it. If we restrict or outlaw guns, only outlaws will have them. The more "good" citizens we have that are armed and ready to protect themselves and others from dangers criminals the safer we all will be.
ReplyDeleteI am certain that a potential criminal planning a terrible act like the Virginia Tech tragedy, would have thought again before going on campus, knowing that other students would have guns to stop him. If we take away a persons right to bare arms, what will be next?
I am not surprised that this bill is from Texas. In a state that is stereotyped as cowboys, where many do carry weapons for protection, where is the blood bath that everyone is so concerned with? It seems that Texas should have increased violent crime rates far above other states, but that is not the case.
I agree that students should be required to complete special training to carry a gun on campus and that teachers should also have free access to this training. And that we should seek to understand the root issue here, although that will take long term analysis, regulation for prescription drugs that alter brain chemistry, and relationship and stress counseling starting in the home. Limiting guns is not the solution.
Wow, interesting article! I have mixed feelings about this. I do believe in individual rights and freedoms and believe that the government should limit control as much as possible. Even though I would never choose to own or carry a gun, I believe that people should have the right to do so. On the flip side, I have had a close friend that died when I was 12 years old from her and her brother playing around with a gun and he accidentally shot her. Accidents happen. For this reason I really hate guns and don't want them anywhere near me or my family.
ReplyDeleteStudents should feel secure on their campuses and not have to be fearful of someone shooting and killing them or their peers. However, the incidents that have happened seem to be isolated. Would having guns on campus bring about more incidents? Even if people have permits and are trained properly what happens if someone does something they don't like or they get really angry? Because they have a gun are they more likely to shoot someone? Maybe not.
My personal opinion is that the school should be able to decide if they want to allow their students to carry guns on campus. Maybe the solution is to hire more armed security or to allow teachers to carry guns?
So, I am conflicted about this. I think people should have the right, but is it the best thing? I'm not sure. Good article!