The conversation of gun control has always been labeled as a controversial and sensitive topic to discuss, but with recent events that occurred this year, that statement has been emphasized. Providing people, such as students, professors and visitors the ability to carry guns on campus is a law I cannot stand behind. Allowing people to rightfully carry a gun on campus can potentially increase the amount of gun violence on campus grounds. The position of going against a pro-gun law is a position I believe others might stand behind due to the recurring mass tragedies that have hit communities all around the United States. In this year alone, there has been a total of 154 mass shootings according to Business Insider; 23 of those shootings have been on school property according to CNN. School shootings have sparked a new conversation in 2018 about gun control that included the ability to carry guns on campus in an effort to provide people the ability to protect themselves.
People should not be allowed to carry a gun on campus because it provides a legal foundation for potential crimes. In the journal “The Public Affairs Quarterly Journal”, authors J.M Dieterle and W. John Koolage depict two points of view regarding campus carry, the “rights-based argument” and a “consequentialist argument”. Rights-based dealing with the lawful right of gun owners and the consequentialist dealing with the idea that guns make a campus more safe. Dieterle and Koolage address very important points to consider in section three: “Negative Effects of Guns on Campus” such as the mental health of college students, who is really behind the gun, the basic idea that “anyone with a gun puts others at risk” and the honest truth of what some college students experience throughout their college life. College life, including but not limited to, alcohol consumption, depression and anxiety, and the common battle with mental stress.
Although not every college student experiences all of these negative aspects, they are very common. Throughout this journal the key point to take away from Dieterle and Koolage is providing others to campus carry only increases the occurrence of gun violence. There are many scenarios to consider, all of which includes putting the lives of others at risk of their safety. In another journal called the “Journal of American College Health” published the article “Student Perceptions and Practices Regarding Carrying Concealed Handguns on University Campuses” written by Amy Thompson and fourteen other individuals. Thompson et al. (2013) conducted a study on student perceptions towards others carrying concealed handguns. Fifteen public Midwestern universities were evaluated in the survey obtaining answers from undergraduate students on campus.
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This journal concluded that “78% of students were not supportive of concealed handguns on campuses and 78% claimed that they would not obtain a permit to carry a handgun on campus, if it were legal.” This statistic is important to acknowledge because this is coming directly from the students who are actually on campus every day. Now, it is not only students who are actively present on campus, there are professors and other college officials as well. In another journal called “Justice Policy Journal”, authors Aaron Bartula and Kendra Bowen took on the opportunity to obtain insight of the university and college officials’ perception towards campus carry. Bartula and Bowen concluded that “Ultimately, the Texas high education Police Officials are strongly opposed to the idea of any potential open carry bill for college campuses.” To listen to and understand the voices of those who are studying and working on campus every day should play a key factor in determining if campus carry should be allowed in general.
Nevertheless, it is important to understand why the other 22% of Thompson’s study sided with campus carry. With the amount of mass shootings the United States has witnessed so far in 2018, it is understandable why others feel the need to have a gun readily accessible for their peace of mind. Recently during last fall of 2017, an armed student shot and killed a campus police officer after being called in for “questioning in a drug-related case…” (New York Times). There is no doubt about the right to protect yourself in a dangerous situation. Some may argue that some institutions have rules and regulations about campus carry that should put others that oppose the law at ease. The very basic rule for campus carry is obtaining a Texas handgun license, which is only available to people who are at least 21 (or 18, if you are a member of the military) according to ABC 13’s article of “6 Facts You Need To Know about Texas’ Campus Carry Law”.
This article also includes that “The law allows guns in buildings, classrooms, and dorms, but each campus can make its own rules on where weapons are permitted. By law, campuses must map out where guns are banned.” This is a critical point to take into account; it is good that different universities can establish their own rules for campus carry. In addition to the opposing perspective, in the journal “The Education Digest”, author Rachel Wiseman published an article named “Campaign for Right To Carry Concealed Guns on Campus”. Wisemen shared the story of Amanda Carpenter’s sexual assault case in 2007 at the University of Nevada. Wisemen included Carpenter’s statement regarding campus carry, “The rapist had a gun. She didn’t. “Had I been carrying that night,” she says, “ I would have been able to stop my rape.” During that time, it was illegal to carry a gun on campus, even if the student had a license.
Carpenter also spoke at a national conference called “Students for Concealed Carry on Campus” where she asked, “Just how does rendering me defenseless protect you against a violent crime?”. This article is very important to take into account because it brings light to real life situations that potentially could have been stopped if you had something to protect yourself. Wiseman’s article allowed others to see into some of the lives who are supportive of the campus carry law. Upon review of all the information uncovered during this research and fully considering both sides of this debate, I believe there are other ways to protect yourself without the use of an armed weapon. For instance, people can take a self-defense class, carry portable pepper or wasp spray, and explore the many others ways to protect yourself. Acknowledging that “campus carry” has been a law in the state of Texas since 2016, there are still various scenarios to take into account such as a person forgetting their gun at home or in the car; thus, not having access to their gun during a dangerous situation.
What would that individual do then? It is important to learn other methods to protect yourself even with the right to carry a gun on or off campus. In an online powerpoint titled “ Why Learn Self-Defense?” presented by Plainfield Central High School, there was a discussion regarding crime statistics, the benefits of self-defense training, the philosophy of personal security and other very important topics that involve protecting yourself without any firearm. Not only does self-defense training provide guidance on how to protect yourself, it also contributes to the reduction of the amount of times people reach for a gun in self defense. Every time a major tragedy hits headlines, people immediately react by talking about change. There are always various discussions on how to implement changes that impact the community, the way society views gun/violence culture, and how that change can leave a lasting imprint on the world for future generations. When a hurt society unites over the possibility to foster change, discussions normally begin with the events that took place and how to implement change.
For example, the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting that took place in 2012, “which at the time, the second-deadliest mass shooting in the United States…” (History.com). That tragedy established an uprising roar for change specifically targeted at gun violence culture. Discussions began regarding changes to the policy on gun control and how society as a whole can prevent this from happening again. Since 2012, there have been numerous accounts of tragic school shootings all across the United States. Expectedly, each event triggers an outcry for gun control support and the question of “what other changes in policy should be done?” always surfaces. In an article published on the Preventionsinstitute.org website, “Gun Violence Must Stop. Here’s What We Can Do to Prevent More Deaths” goes in depth regarding a large variety of actions and approaches this government, our community, and other nations can do to decrease and/or prevent gun violence. Two of the most impacting ideas I learned from this article would be to emphasize gun safety by “establishing a culture of gun safety” and implement “sensible gun laws: reduce easy access to dangerous weapons”.
The culture of gun safety and the implementation of sensible gun laws (The Prevention Institute) are two very basic ideas that provide hope for change in modern day society. The idea of culture is heavily relied on in every environment of life such as the workplace, the community, and the society we all live in, as it is also used to define those spaces. To change or shift the current perspective of gun safety and armed weapons in general in today’s society is an enormous step in the right direction to decrease the amount of gun violence that we face in this state, as well as the country. Sensible gun laws that include the very basic ideals of practical safety but at the same time not completely abolishing the second amendment is also very important for those in support of campus carry as well as those who oppose it.
The topic of gun control, specifically campus carry, has been a long time discussion in the political realm and social atmosphere. As the debate progresses and people continue to have the same discussions repeatedly, the real question that everyone should be thinking about does not start with gun control at all; it starts with the conversation of safety and security. Giffords Law Center, an organization to prevent gun violence, provided a few statistics of “Guns on Campus”. According to their credited source, “Guns at College” written by Matthew Miller, David Hemenway and Henry Wechsler (1999) concluded:
“College student gun owners are more likely than those who do not own guns to engage in activities that put themselves and others at risk for severe or life-threatening injuries, including reckless behavior involving alcohol, driving while intoxicated, and suffering an alcohol-related injury.” This statistic proves that college students who own guns pose a threat to the safety and security of others around them as well as their own.
An environment designed for learning and growing is not the proper place for a gun. Although this law was passed to allow individuals to defend themselves and express their rights under the second amendment, violence countered by additional violence does not solve the problem. Granting individuals the right to carry a gun on university grounds spreads fear, anxiety, and stress throughout the campus among students and professors. To become a better society, we have to think with optimism, act with compassion, and live upon the primitive concept of humanity to leave a lasting impression for generations to come.
