Why Colleges Should Support Campus Carry

Mass shootings are a huge problem currently facing the United States. What happened at Pulse Night club, Sandy Hook, and Virginia Tech are all horrendous and terrifying events. However, most people overlook that all of these locations had something in common. They were all gun free zones. Think about it, if you were a mass shooter, wouldn't you want to pick some place where no one else would have a gun to shoot you back?

It should fall under the 2nd amendment right of the Constitution to legally conceal carry a firearm on college campuses. The ban of guns on college campuses makes students more vulnerable and only empowers an attacker to prey upon sitting ducks. Hundreds of accounts of sexual assaults, aggravated assault and dangerous robberies happen on college campuses and dormitories every year. These accounts could be easily avoided by just implanting the thought into a criminal's mind that their victim has the possibility of possessing a firearm to protect them self.

Those faculty, staff and students who are wishing to conceal carry on campus already have to be permitted by their state to do so. This requires extensive background checks that review criminal history and any mental illnesses that may make them unsuitable to control a firearm. Conceal carry permits also require hours of training in both a classroom setting and at the gun range. This training teaches the person the ins and outs of all gun laws of that state as well as where, how, and when the use of gun force is legal and justifiable. Concealed carry training also instructs the trainee on how to properly wield a firearm and correct firearm safety to keep all individuals that come in contact with that person safe.

One of the reasons for the second amendment is to give Americans the right, not privilege, to defend themselves in a possible state of imminent danger. This right should not be taken away from a law abiding citizen just because he or she is a student at a University. A student, faculty, or staff member with a license not only will be protecting themselves in an active shooter scenario, but could potentially save the whole campus. Even the simple thought in a potential shooter's head that perhaps someone was there to shoot him back could deter a horrific event.

Campus carry does not mean that every single student will be walking down the hallways with a gun on their hip. In fact, a very tiny percentage of students in college even have a permit to carry. It is up to the individual to decide if they feel the need to conceal carry, regardless of the opinion of the student sitting next them. Obtaining this permit through rigorous and informative training leaves these types of individuals safe to carry a firearm per the government. If they can legally carry off campus safely, what makes them unsuitable to do so on campus?

At the end of the day, it is really quite simple. Gun free zones like college campuses do not stop mass shootings. If you're a shooter, you're going to find the biggest and easiest target. The biggest and easiest target is somewhere that is assured to have no guns. Shooters are criminals who break the law, so what makes them inclined to abide to a "gun free zone?" No matter what gun control policy or ban is enacted, criminals will always break the law and continue to do so. It is impossible to keep guns out of the hands of bad people, so you might as well legally arm the good ones, even on campus.


 By Dominic Policicchio


Article Source: Why Colleges Should Support Campus Carry