Guns on College Campuses

Alexandra Prather

Mrs. Wilmott

English IV/ 3rd hour

30 December 2017

Protect Yourself

Many school massacres have taken place for college students not to be allowed to carry a concealed weapon on them. Campuses like Louisiana State University have a lot of traffic from nonstudents, this allowing a threat to enter campus and not even know it. Responsible people are the ones that will take the course and make the attempt to get approved for a concealed weapons permit. This matter is a no brainer; protecting yourself and putting others at ease in a sense that if endangerment were to occur that person would have it covered.

October 1, 2015, 18 families’ lives changed forever. Roseburg, Oregon a shooting occurred at the Umpqua Community College where 10 students, in an English class, lost their lives to a gunman. That day could have had a different outcome if one person in that English class had a concealed weapon. One shot from that gun and the professor and many of students’ lives could have been saved. Parents send their kids off to school thinking they will be safe, but nowhere is “safe”. Going to college means your grow up and can take care of yourself, your responsible, and most of the time on your own. If you can live on your own and 18 years old, you should be able to carry a weapon on your hip. There are officers that are on campus, but on October 1st they weren’t close enough to the English room to save their lives.

“Last year, Gov. Greg Abbott of Texas signed SB 11, also known as the “campus carry” law. The law allows licensed holders to carry concealed handguns in university buildings and classrooms, extending the reach of a previous law that permitted concealed handguns on university grounds. The law goes into effect Aug. 1, 2016 for Texas public colleges and universities, and a year later for community colleges.” (Auyero). States across the nation are starting to allow facility and students carry concealed weapons, but Louisiana is still one of the few states that have not. It takes a person to kill someone not a gun, especially one in a holster on safety. Statistics show it is very rare for a person with a CCW (Concealed Carry Weapon) to have an accidental discharge.

After the shooting in Baton Rouge on July 17, 2016, people argued with the fact citizens shouldn’t be entitled to the Second Amendment. ““The problem isn't with open carry," Zelenka said. "The problem is the criminal's intent to commit the crime. A law-abiding citizen could open-carry anything and be of no danger to anybody.”” (Lau and Mustian). Colleges want law-abiding citizens to attend their college, not a trouble maker that will put a bad rap on their school. The only way you can get a CCW permit is if you are a law-abiding citizen, so the idea that a crazy law breaking will have a gun on campus is nuts. There can be rules set in place that a copy of their certification must be on file and be present on their body always so if anyone was to question they will have proof.