What do you think about allowing college students to carry guns?
Remember after the viginia tech shooting, a lot of pro-gunner's were advocating allowing college students to be armed in school. When whats-his-name went on that shooting spree the students were essentially helpless, thus it's argued that a school full of armed students could have taken him down and stopped the whole massacre.
One guy on CNN argued against this, saying "yeah, and how many students would have been killed in the crossfire?". Personally I think that's a stupid argument. There's a decent chance that nobody would be killed, that a few students would blow him away incident-free. But even assuming students are killed the crossfire (which is absolutely possible), you can't tell me the cross-fire would have killed 32 students, the number the shooter managed to kill while they were defenseless. Accidential deaths during the shootout simply cannot number as high as purposeful deaths by an unopposed shooter, that's just rediculous.
Personally, I believe in the Virginia tech shooting an armed student body would have been very beneficial.
On the other hand, what about the rest of the shootout-free days? Is it really sensible to allow a bunch of testosterone-pumped 20 something guys to carry lethal weapons? I wonder how many dorm-room fights there have been where students have completely lost their temper and fought one another. What if once in a while some of those students, blinded by rage, lost their temper and whipped out their handgun and shot the guy they found in bed with his girlfriend, or stole his stash, whatever? What if handgun carrying makes students more inclined to form gangs? Commit crimes? Rob one another? Lose their temper and pull it on a professor that just failed them?
For me, there's no easy answer, at least no answer that's absolutely right or wrong. I thought a compromise might be to arm just the instructors and give them proper weapons training, so at least somebody can offer protection. Or even better yet, pay for a few armed guards in the hallways (but you can bet that would put the already too-high tuitition up).
I have no firm stance either way, but I'm probably least inclined to give guns to the students. What are you opinions on the matter?
What do you think about allowing college students to carry guns?
I'll give you my stance on it, I think that if a student has legally obtained a concealed carry license he should be able to carry on campus. That means (at least in my state) that you have nothing more on your record than traffic stops, no drug charges, assualt, robbery, that kinda stuff. You have been trained to carry a concealed handgun. Last you have to be 21 or older to obtain this license. One of the biggest arguments I hear against this is that college kids aren't mature enough to carry a weapon. Myself and a few people I know at school are pursuing getting their license, these are not kids to go out party get drunk and become belligerent. They are the ones that are very mature, and always stay on top of their homework. The only thing I have a problem with, is staying in a dorm. There would have to be very strict rules with keeping a gun in your dorm room. Such as if it isn't on your person it's in a safe that is secured to the floor. Anyone interested in this can visit this site Students for Concealed Carry on Campus - ConcealedCampus.com These are just my two cents.
What do you think about allowing college students to carry guns?
Schools should be for scholars, not thugs. Increasing campus security would be a more effective solution then allowing ill trained people to walk around armed. And the liability a college would face should a "miss understanding" happen. Those who do not have police or military training should leave the guns at the door while in school.
What do you think about allowing college students to carry guns?
Ok, I agree that school should be for scholars, and not thugs. Though I would hardly call an upstanding citizen that refuses to become a victim a thug. I come from a very large campus, at least 50 buildings maybe more. It is just unreasonable to think that a university can effectively protect each and everyone one of these buildings. That would take a security force of at least 100 guards. While I do think that students with a ccw should be able to carry on campus, I don't think it's gonna happen anytime soon. A more acceptable option would be to let proffesors who have recieved training carry a weapon while in school. At least this would offer some deterrent to a would be shooter. The tragedy at Virginia Tech lasted for over two and half hours, because the shooter ran into no opposition. All the students, and faculty could do was pray that the shooter didn't come to their room. I would feel so much safer in class if I knew that there were students or faculty that were armed.
What do you think about allowing college students to carry guns?
I have a carry permit, but you aren't allowed to carry at schools. I'm with the armed guard crowd. The school police in Nev. are allowed to carry, I think some of the high schools even have metal detecters.
What do you think about allowing college students to carry guns?
I think it would cause more problems than it would solve. Instead of letting them carry guns, make it harder to get guns onto campus.
What do you think about allowing college students to carry guns?
I'm against armed college students more than anything because of the evidence that the brain and impulse control of people at that age are still forming until they're in their early and mid-20s. Most college kids aren't at a level of maturity or impulse control where I feel they're ready to be packing heat.
What do you think about allowing college students to carry guns?
Everybody has made solid arguments so far. I guess I'll have to go with the plan B me and my friend sometimes imagine.... letting everyone carry samurai swords!:D
What do you think about allowing college students to carry guns?
Howdy Gandalf,
I'm with guitar-player on this issue..if I can go into the military at 17 and be trained to carry a weapon,then I think that we should demand that the students be at least mature enough to be responsible with a firearm.
When I went to highschool in the 70's,we were allowed to bring guns to school,we just had to keep em locked up in the trunk,that's how much trust our school officials had in us to be mature and responsible with firearms.
We need to bring back firearms safety and competition courses,and colleges need to stop kicking ROTC off of the campus's.
Have a good one ! :)
What do you think about allowing college students to carry guns?
My personal opinion is, I think every man, and women old enough to carry a firearm should be able to, it is one of our rights. I hear a lot of arguments comming from people who are saying it is dangerous, and that some are not mature enough. If everyone is carrying a firearm, I can gaurantee that violence will be reduced. People are going to think a lot more if they know that the other person is carrying also. We have the right to protect ourselves, and we are denied that right. Guns kill no-one only stupid people with guns do, and if we all pack I am sure them stupid people would be wiped out. We have allowed our government and everyone else out there against this to tell us we are not mature enough? Come on I don't need any politician to protect me, or to say "Jason I just don't think you are mature enough to carry that firearm. Oh and I also see you have a felony for taking pain killers when you were in high school...denied". Disarming america is not going to do anything but give the people who are carrying to abuse those who are not.