Guns On Campus: Wise Or Unwise?
Posted: Monday, February 21, 2011
by Joel Hendon
http://hebronics.org/index.html
Often I get more news from publications such as the UK Telegraph than from the U.S. Media. A rather good article in today’s Telegraph told me more than I already knew about the pros and cons of allowing concealed weapons (firearms) on college campuses. The fact of the matter is we have some 26 colleges with multiple campuses who allow concealed weapons on them now.
Needless to say, there are plenty who oppose this, yet it is difficult to counteract the facts and statistics. One source who is a proponent of the idea reminds us of the massive number of victims of on campus shootings, where it was illegal to have a weapon, and probably some lives may have been saved if there had been a few guns at Virginia Tech and also Northern Illinois University.
One comment from a proponent also reminded us that the laws in most states allow guns to be carried into shopping centers, restaurants and even banks, legally and there is rarely ever, if ever, a holdup or shooting from anyone with an authorized weapon. Criminals do not register their weapons.
What about those who oppose it? Mostly it is out of unfounded fear. I can understand it. It seems frightening to me also. But college aged people are grown ups. I know that some few do not act as if they are, but most have an adult level of responsibility, especially when it comes to shooting someone.
One unidentified comment was given as follows: “The college age years – 18-24 – are the peak years for engaging in gun crimes, abusing drugs and alcohol, attempting suicide, and having other mental health problems. A binge-drinking, drug-using student is dangerous enough; let’s not give him or her a gun.”
Some of that remark makes sense, but I believe it is an error to heap the college students into the peak years for gun crimes and other illegal acts. Most of the ones you read of who commit crimes in that age group belong to gangs or are high school drop outs and so on.
The fact is, as I see it, there are more than ample weapons available to anyone whosoever determines to commit a crime. Regardless of what our laws say, the weapons are available. Just like the drugs our young people are so attracted to, even though they are illegal.
Only the law abiding people will be deprived of drugs when outlawed and the same goes for the weapons. It is similar to the prohibition days with alcoholic beverages, they could never control it. They are unlikely to be able to control drugs, and even more so, weapons. Regulations requiring a license seems logical to me, but to forbid all to own...or even carry one, seems to be placing the law abiding citizen at a gross disadvantage.
Texas is now preparing to pass a law which would allow students in their colleges to carry concealed handguns onto the campuses. That’s half a million students. It seems pathetic to think that such measures might be somewhat necessary. I read an article recently quoting some national leader of a country, whose name and country has now left me. He said that no country could ever successfully invade the United States in a ground war. He said there would be a gun behind every clump of weeds. I suppose that is a plus for the gun enthusiasts.
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