The response, in many states, has been a campaign to allow people to carry guns on campus. Concealed handgun license holders don’t need to know how to drive police cars at high speeds or how to kick down doors or how to conduct traffic stops or how to make arrests or how to use handcuffs. Due to violence on college campuses in recent years, state legislatures across the country have revisited the appropriate course of policy actions to address this pressing national issue. They are not trained to run through buildings looking for bad guys. While those who oppose concealed carry feel that more guns equals more gun violence, proponents of it maintain that the vast majority of adults who legally carry concealed weapons have never misused their guns. Rather than relying on honor-system-based policies to protect highly sensitive areas, colleges and universities should invest in metal detectors and armed guards, so as to ensure that these areas are gun-free in more than name only. Dozens of bills have been taken up by state legislatures around the country. (Laura Zuckerman, “Idaho lawmakers pass bill allowing concealed guns on college campuses”, Reuters, March 6, 2014. If there is a desk between you and the assailant, you’re probably out of luck. Federal appeals court hears arguments on Texas campus carry law Three professors from the University of Texas at Austin took their case against campus carry … He is an economist and author of "The War on Guns: Arming Yourself Against Gun Control Lies" whose work is often cited by the National Rifle Association and other gun-rights groups. Groups petition for gun bans from school assemblies failed to forward my favorite anti-campus carry argument: young adults with gun permits in college get drunk and shoot people. The answer to school violence is prevention, not guns on campus. From 1996-2007, the State of Texas had 1,754 convictions for ‘discharge of a firearm.’ Only three of those convictions were of license holders, and it’s not certain if any of those three convictions were related to concealed carry. Increased insurance for the university. A free society never places the burden of proof on those seeking the granting of a right, to show that the right is needed. Colleges are too crowded to safely allow the carry of concealed weapons. A rise in shootings on college campuses has added a new front in the gun debate, centering on this question: does it hurt, or help, to have more armed people at school? Several other states, including Alaska and Missouri, are considering similar measures. A new report by researchers at Johns Hopkins University argues that the data behind the campus-carry movement is flawed. While these are two different things, they are fundamentally the same. A dangerous person might jump someone who is carrying a gun, take the gun, and use it to do harm. Weighing both sides of the argument for or against concealed carry of weapons on campus among college students, professor, and other college employees opens … "Increasing gun availability in campus environments could make far more common acts of aggression, recklessness or self-harm more deadly and, thus, have a deleterious impact on the safety of students, faculty and staff," they wrote in a report published Friday by the university's Bloomberg School of Public Health. Concealed handgun license holders carry guns in case danger finds them where they had no reason to expect it. In these cases the attacker was stopped by faculty or fellow students, decided to stop shooting on his own, or killed himself.’ The study found that only three of the thirty-seven school shootings researched involved shots being fired by law enforcement officers. How are first responders supposed to tell the difference between armed civilians and armed assailants? At least three involved the license holder showing the handgun to a second party, which is never a good idea, and three appear to have been caused by the license holder carrying an unholstered handgun in a pocket or backpack, which is also never a good idea. During the spring of 2001, the only U.S. college to allow licensed concealed carry on campus was Blue Ridge Community College (Weyers Cave, VA), a two-year college with fewer than 3,000 enrolled students. Like handguns, Tasers are banned on most college campuses. The campus carry policy working group at the University of Texas at Austin concluded, “The evidence does not in any way support the claim of a causal link between campus carry and an increased rate of sexual assault.” The report on which opponents base this claim explicitly states that its “results certainly do not prove that concealed carry causes more crime.” The campus carry opponents touting this campus-carry-leads-to-rape theory could take extra steps to verify whether a license holder has ever been charged with sexual assault on a campus-carry campus, but they don’t want to because they know that no campus-carry college has reported a sexual assault in which an armed CHL holder was either the assailant or the victim. Even if it lasted the full ten seconds, how could ten seconds of two people shooting at each other possibly be worse than ten minutes of an assailant walking up to victims and shooting them in the head (sometimes multiple times) at pointblank range, as occurred at Virginia Tech? Many people are surprised to learn that 19 of the 32 victims of the Virginia Tech massacre were over the age of 21 (the minimum age to obtain a concealed handgun license in Virginia and most other states). Across the board an… There has been a debate on whether schools should allow their students to carry along their firearms to their learning environment (Taylor,2002). Finally, if all the above fail, I think we would all agree – we’d rather take our chances with the “good guys with guns” than succumb to the “bad guys with guns.”. Concealed handguns would no more distract college students from learning than they currently distract moviegoers from enjoying movies or office workers from doing their jobs. Return to Arguments – It’s possible a gun might go off by accident. Some professors might be afraid to issue bad grades if they know that students could be carrying guns. This leads us to wonder if the same researchers did a follow-up study in which they found that people who carry insulin injectors are more likely to suffer from diabetes. An examination of those twenty-nine incidents reveals twenty-six in which licensed concealed carry played no part whatsoever, two in which it is highly unlikely that licensed concealed carry played any part, and one in which licensed concealed carry very well may have played a part. The licensed student at UCC followed typical concealed handgun training by not attempting to interdict an incident that didn’t already involve him. Return to Arguments – A Taser is as effective as a handgun against an armed assailant. Return to Arguments – Police officers typically spend four to five months in training; whereas, concealed handgun license holders usually spend one day or less. The Harvard study is based on a spring 2001 survey of 119 four-year colleges. Virtually every peer-reviewed study on the subject, including studies by the National Academy of Sciences* and the Harvard Injury Control Research Center**, has concluded that there is no evidence that licensed concealed carry leads to an increase in either violent crime or gun deaths. Lott said he couldn't take seriously a report that singled him out so frequently and was based on the assumption that college-aged permit holders were as reckless as those who didn't have permits. Since the fall semester of 2006, licensed individuals have been allowed to carry concealed handguns on the campuses of Utah’s nine degree-offering public colleges (20 campuses) and one public technical college (10 campuses). All a concealed handgun license holder needs to know is how to use his or her concealed handgun to stop an immediate threat of death or serious bodily harm, and that type of training CAN be accomplished in a few hours.”. Licensed concealed carry has been allowed on the two campuses of Colorado State University (Fort Collins, CO, and Pueblo, CO) since 2003 and at 14 Colorado community colleges (38 campuses) since the fall semester of 2010. Return to Arguments–Campus carry would make encounters with police more dangerous for young men of color. Protesters gather at University of Texas campus to oppose a state law that expands the rights of concealed handgun license holders to carry their weapons on public college campuses on Oct. 1, 2015. There are numerous other options, from community gun lockups to small, private gun safes that can be secured to walls, floors, bed frames, etc. Exercising concealed carry off campus won’t be as special anymore. A 2002 Harvard University study found that students who have a firearm at college are more likely to binge drink, drive while under the influence, use illegal drugs, vandalize property, and get into trouble with the police. She told reportersthat even the school security guard and the handful of retired police officers on the faculty were prohibited from carrying guns on campus. Therefore, none of the respondents to the Harvard survey could legally possess a gun on campus. Corral, a shootout involving nine armed participants and a number of bystanders, lasted only about 30 seconds and resulted in only three fatalities (no bystanders were injured). That’s technically true. Furthermore, a free society always places the burden of proof on those seeking the denial of a right, to show that granting the right will cause harm. The last thing we need is a bunch of vigilantes getting into a shootout with a madman, particularly since it’s been proven that trained police officers have an accuracy rate of only 15%-20% in the field. Texas’s 82 public two-year colleges (125 campuses) have allowed it since August 1, 2017. Return to Arguments – In October of 2014, feminist activist Anita Sarkeesian was forced to cancel a speech at Utah State University after receiving death threats and learning that Utah’s campus carry law would not permit the university to screen for weapons at the event. School shootings are very rare, and college campuses are statistically very safe. The statistics suggest that allowing concealed carry on campus won’t hurt and might help; therefore, there is no legitimate reason not to allow it. There is no evidence that campus carry leads to an increase in sexual assaults. The handgun discharged, shooting him in the foot. The argument that campus carry would be an effective deterrent to sexual assault has been summarized memorably by Marion Hammer, a former president of the NRA, who stated that banning guns on campus provides “a sanctuary where criminals can rape and commit mass murder without fear of resistance.” She went on to claim that opponents of a campus carry bill in Florida were … Montana – 42 Gun activists march close to The University of Texas campus on Dec. 12, 2015 in Austin, Texas. A quick glance at CDC data from 2007 (the last year for which records are available) reveals that individuals between the ages of 21 and 24, the age group most likely to carry concealed handguns on a college campus, accounted for fewer than 70 fatal gun accidents that year, nationwide. Clearly, these states’ lenient concealed handgun laws are not breeding generations of young violent offenders. Among the forty-four shall-issue’ states*—states where local authorities cannot require qualified applicants to “show a need” before the applicant is issued a concealed handgun license/concealed carry weapons permit—six states allow, without special provision, for any qualified person eighteen years or older to be issued a concealed handgun license. Guns on campus would lead to an increased number of suicides by college students. Maine – 51, “Not only are Maine, North Dakota, New Hampshire, and South Dakota four of the five** U.S. states with the lowest crime rates, Montana has the tenth lowest crime rate, and Indiana isn’t even in the top 50%. Dorms are notoriously vulnerable to theft. “Based on the FBI/Department of Justice violent crime statistics for the year 2006, the crime rates for these seven states, when ranked with all fifty states and the District of Columbia, rank as follows: Indiana – 30 Read more background…. And based on consistent trends, it’s fair to assume that most (approximately 80%) of those were either hunting accidents or incidents of someone mishandling a firearm in the home. Texas’s 38 public universities began allowing licensed concealed carry on August 1, 2016. It is inconceivable that any logical person would believe the answer to violence is more guns. That same campus erupted in demonstrations when the new Texas law went into effect this year. If the assailant is standing four feet away, you’re probably out of luck. * Aside from the university’s official explanation of protecting student privacy, it is also possible that, in light of the fact that Ms. Sarkeesian’s planned speech was not a high-profile event, the university decided that securing the venue would not be worth the financial cost (for both equipment and man-hours). Why should honest, law abiding citizens be asked to undergo years of training in order to master an inferior method of self-defense? On September 1, 2017, a cadet at Texas A&M negligently discharged a firearm in a Corps of Cadet dormitory. If you’re going to try to manually disarm an assailant, you’d better be within an arm’s length of the assailant, be standing on firm ground, have no obstacles between you and the assailant, and be in relatively good physical condition. The job of defending campuses against violent attacks should be left to the professionals. If you’re going to attempt to use a Taser to defend yourself against an armed assailant, you’d better hope the assailant isn’t wearing thick clothing or standing more than fifteen feet away. How are first responders supposed to tell the difference between armed civillians and armed assailants. On September 16, 2016, a student at Tarleton State University negligently discharged his firearm in a university residence hall. One of the modern era's first mass shootings occurred 50 years ago, when gunman Charles Whitman shot 49 people, killing 16, from his roost in the clock tower at the University of Texas at Austin. These states are Indiana, Maine, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, and South Dakota. Actually, the UCC code of conduct expressly prohibited possessing a gun on campus without the written authorization of the school. School shootings are very rare, and college campuses are statistically very safe. This record, coupled with the fact that not one campus-carry college has reported a resulting violent crime, threat of violence, suicide, or suicide attempt demonstrates that the licensed, concealed carry of handgun can be safely implemented on college campuses. Like handguns, defense sprays are banned on most college campuses. For the past two years, dozens of states have debated allowing college students to carry concealed weapons on campus. ", Related: New Texas Law Allows College Students to Carry Guns on Campus. South Dakota – 47 A Taser is as effective as a handgun against an armed assailant. And he argued that the reason it was hard to corroborate prevented attacks because such incidents often do not attract public attention. There is no need to allow concealed carry on campus. Legalizing concealed carry on college campuses would neither make it easier for college students to obtain firearms nor make it legal for a person to carry a firearm while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Campus carry would make encounters with police more dangerous for young men of color. Umpqua Community College was not a gun-free zone at the time of that campus shooting. The college lifestyle is defined by alcohol and drug abuse. *“Youth and Adolescent Suicide: A Guide for Educators,” Oregon Resiliency Project, University of Oregon, 2003; After Suicide: A Ray of Hope for Those Left Behind, Eleanora Betsy Ross, 2001. Does the carrier create a hostile environment for their co-workers, or does the carrier’s possession pose a chance to disrupt the safety for the workplace staff. The widespread passage of shall-issue concealed carry laws has not led to spates of shootings or gun thefts at those locations. Return to Arguments – Self-defense training is as effective as a handgun against an armed assailant. Colleges are too crowded to safely allow the carry of concealed weapons. Guns have nothing to do with learning. What Can Past Crimes on College Campuses Teach Us About Campus Carry? Prohibiting Concealed Carry in the Workplace Strayer University When carrying a concealed weapon into a place of employment there are numerous issues that have been raised regarding the safety of the situation. The Johns Hopkins group even raised questions about a central argument in the gun-rights movement: that concealed-carry permit holders are far more law abiding than the general population. Return to Arguments – Colleges are too crowded to safely allow the carry of concealed weapons. A report by the Citizens Crime Commission of New York City released this month documented an increase in the number of shootings, and victims, on college campuses since 2001, with the combined number of wounded and dead peaking last school year. Even assuming that this hypothetical dangerous person knew that an individual was carrying a concealed handgun, which is unlikely, there are much easier ways for a criminal to acquire a firearm than by assaulting an armed individual. Actually, the answer to bullets flying is almost always more bullets flying. As of spring 2018, that’s more than 333 U.S. college campuses allowing licensed concealed carry for a combined total of approximately 2,000 (biannual) college semesters, an average of almost six semesters (three years) per campus, with zero reports of resulting deaths, assaults, or suicide attempts. Texas College Students Can Now Carry Guns on Campus, Beginning of an Era: The 1966 University of Texas Clock Tower Shooting, by the Citizens Crime Commission of New York City, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures, New Texas Law Allows College Students to Carry Guns on Campus, have helped block federal research into gun violence. As of July 1, 2017, all 27 public universities and 22 public community colleges in Georgia allow licensed concealed carry. The increased danger that accompanies unholstering and handling a firearm is one of the reasons SCC vigorously fights proposals such as placing gun lockers outside of classrooms or requiring license holders to empty the chambers of their guns before stepping onto campus. Negligent Discharges at Campus-Carry Colleges: These incidents are unfortunate; however, given the number of college campuses that allow licensed concealed carry and the length of time for which they have allowed it, this is still an impressive record. That means that licensed visitors and guests could carry concealed handguns on campus without fear of reprisal; however, students, faculty, and staff (the people most likely to need to defend themselves on campus) could be expelled or fired for doing so. Even a well-trained martial arts expert is no match for a bullet fired from eight feet away. Allowing concealed carry on college campuses would not change the rules about who can buy a gun or who can obtain a concealed handgun license. Return to Arguments – Defense Spray is as effective as a handgun against an armed assailant. The college lifestyle is defined by alcohol and drug abuse. Here are common arguments against. (Scott Jaschik, “Gun Rights vs. College Rights”, Inside Higher Ed, September 11, 2006. The claim does not hold in states with relatively loose gun laws, the report said. Colleges are emotionally volatile environments. Defense Spray is as effective as a handgun against an armed assailant. The handgun discharged, shooting him in the leg. In light of the fact that a person unconcerned with following the rules can walk onto a college campus carrying a backpack full of guns just as easily as carrying a backpack full of books, some professors might feel more comfortable about issuing bad grades if they knew they were allowed the means to defend themselves. (Senate Bill 11, 84th Regular Session of the Texas Legislature (2015). A person with a gun could “snap” and go on a killing spree. Return to Arguments– A 2002 Harvard University study found that students who have a firearm at college are more likely to binge drink, drive while under the influence, use illegal drugs, vandalize property, and get into trouble with the police. The 2002 Harvard study in question reveals absolutely nothing about the legal, licensed concealed carry of handguns on college campuses; however, it does reveal quite bit about the illegal possession of firearms on college campuses. Never point a gun at anything you are not WILLING to destroy. In a perfect system, the two approaches to safety compliment each other. The one incident in which licensed concealed carry may have played a part resulted in only three murders (the minimum to qualify as a “mass killing”), took place during a confrontation at the home of the perpetrator’s ex-wife, and involved a perpetrator who should have been ineligible to own a gun, much less obtain a concealed handgun license, but still received a Pennsylvania license due to an error in the criminal database. The researchers said their data showed that most fatal mass shootings occur in places were guns are allowed, and people with guns rarely are able to stop them. Contrary to what the movies might have us believe, most real-world shootouts last only three to ten seconds (according to law enforcement instructors). Cursory arguments raised against it take the form of emphasized, unrebutted arguments featured by slanted coverage of the media, and are generally as follows: students are irresponsible, reckless, and prone to mental illness and self … Concealed Carry Weapon Laws and College Campuses. In fact, many of the law enforcement officials have since admitted that they were wrong to oppose concealed carry measures. The higher likelihood for college-aged people to engage in reckless behavior — binge drinking, drug use, fighting, suicide — heightens the danger, they said. That hardly sounds representative of concealed handgun license holders, who must have a squeaky clean record and who are statistically much less likely to commit a crime, compared to the general population. That’s why the police bring so many guns with them when they respond to a report of ‘shots fired.’. In 2014, five states introduced legislation to prohibit concealed carry weapons on campus. College campuses contain sensitive areas such as biocontainment labs and chemical storage facilities. Those gun-control advocates are now being backed by researchers at Johns Hopkins University, who just released a study that argues the campus-carry movement is based on flawed assumptions about the relationship between civilian gun use, violent crime and mass shootings, including several killings on college campuses. Much like Colorado, Utah is a solid example against leftist arguments that campus carry laws “make learning environments less safe.” Idaho: Governor “Butch” Otter (R) signed legislation legalizing campus carry on March 12, 2014. The issue is heating up in … It should be noted that some locations are more prone to accidental/negligent discharges than are others. Perhaps the most common argument against campus carry involves doubting the maturity of the adults on college campuses. Detroit Police Chief James Craig has even said that more CPL holders in the Motor City could further decrease violent crime in the city. And Gunfreekids.org casts a wide net in its efforts to prevent gun violence. Return to Arguments-According to the Violence Policy Center, concealed handgun license holders have killed hundreds of people. Eight states allow people to carry concealed weapons on the grounds of public colleges and universities, based on the belief that criminals will be less likely to open fire if they know they might be confronted by someone else with a gun. Police officers typically spend four to five months in training; whereas, concealed handgun license holders usually spend one day or less. Studies* show that 90% of suicides are committed in the home. Return to Arguments – It’s unlikely that allowing concealed carry on college campuses could help prevent a Virginia Tech-style massacre because most college students are too young to obtain a concealed handgun license. Return to Arguments – The answer to school violence is prevention, not guns on campus. Jon Schuppe writes about crime, justice and related matters for NBC News. Despite the temptation to trade the complexity and ambiguity of human behavior for the clarity and aesthetic beauty of colorful brain images, we must be careful not to over-interpret the neuroimaging findings as they relate to public policy.”, *Jay N. Giedd, M.D., one of the pioneers in the field of neuroimaging, is a practicing child and adolescent psychiatrist and chief of brain imaging at the Child Psychiatry Branch of the National Institute of Mental Health.
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