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jack3566Concealed on Campus
Eric Thompson recently spoke to a group of college students at Virginia Tech concerning the importance of allowing students to lawfully carry concealed handguns while on campus. Thompson, owner of the store who sold Seung-Hui Cho a handgun later used to kill 32 people at the campus, supports the idea that students should be able to defend themselves. Unfortunately, many in academia do not hold the same sentiment and that is one reason Cho was able to kill so many before finally turning the gun on himself.
So who were the students supposed to turn to during the horror precipitated by Cho? It was apparent the officials where not up to the task of ensuring the safety of our unarmed students. Instead, students and faculty were left with no other option than to cower in a corner and pray. Sadly, with the exception of the growing organization, Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, many people are against the idea that adult students should have a right to life. Instead there is a belief that more guns will end in more deaths even though statistics prove otherwise. In fact, of the 27, 422 concealed hand gun permits issued by the state of Louisiana (I lived there a few years ago), only 417 suspensions and 259 revocations of permits have occurred since 1996 (Louisiana Department of Public Safety). Why so few problems with permit holders? Maybe it is because the application process involves a background check, fingerprinting, doctor’s note, classroom time, and range training. Simply put, it was a royal pain.
Works Cited:
Louisiana Department of Public Safety. “Concealed Handgun Permit Unit: Annual Legislative Report 2007-2008.” 29 Feb. 2008. 25 Apr 2008 <http://www.lsp.org/pdf/chAnnualReport07-08.pdf>.
Filed under: Commentary, News | Tagged: Commentary, Guns
The root problem with the guns in schools deal is that the government is meddling in education. If all schools were private, there would be schools that decided to allow guns and schools that didn’t. I don’t think many professors would work at a school with guns and I know I wouldn’t go to one, but at least people would have the choice.
Effay, the colleges in Utah have no problem getting professors and concealed carry is allowed there. They’ve also had no problem with campus massacres
In Texas, where I have a CHL, one undergoes fingerprinting, full background check, 10 hours of classroom training, and a range test. Not to mention about $260 of cost. Retesting is required every 4 years. One doesn’t go through it unless you’re pretty serious and responsible.
In Alaska, where I currently live, you can carry open or concealed with or without a permit. Most people do not bother obtaining one unless they travel to the lower-48. Suprisingly, it was a democrat that proposed the change to the law requiring permits.
Effay - You make a good point about choice though you would be suprised at how often you are sitting near someone who is armed.
Mike O - My point exactly concerning what it takes to get a permit. Again, it is not the honest law abiding citizen (including students) you have to be concerned with, but the idiot with no regard for the law. I always found “No Guns” signs on banks and other places of business as an open invitation for criminals to do their evil deeds.
They have a very specific sign you have to post in Texas to ban guns; some of our local schools have them posted. All they really proclaim is:
VICTIM HUNTING PRESERVE
I posted my solution awhile ago (which got picked up by Instapundit with the comment ‘Only 5%?)