The Great Debate the Pros and Cons of Guns in the Classroom

Due to the recent upheaval of violent crimes on campus, many pro-gun activist have suggested that both the students and teachers should be allowed to carry concealed weapons on campus. Those for this may claim that their rights have been violated because many college campuses refuse to allow weapons of any kind on campus. It is not the right to carry a gun which is in debate here, but rather it is whether or not guns should be allowed on a college campus. The Constitution of The United States of America already grants citizens the right to carry guns, and being in the south, I am by far no stranger to seeing a gun from time-to-time, but it is not appropriate for guns to be in a vulnerable area such as a college campus. There are already too many guns available to the public, and allowing them on an educational facility would greatly increase the likelihood of injury or death. Americans, as previously mentioned, have the right to bear arms, and this should be held sacred, and not infringed, taken away, or limited. However, stricter firearm control should be implemented for those who chose to carry a concealed weapon, and gun control should be done by having stricter certification processes before a firearm or gun permit is issued, intensive psychological evaluation for the person or persons applying for a gun permit or a gun,and greater educational requirements for gun owners and firearm safety.

Concealed carry and college campuses are two major topics currently in the media, yet these two topics are rarely used in unison, until now. The topic of whether or not concealed carry should be allowed on college campuses is a now mainstream debate with multiple views and numerous differentiating opinions. Many of the general public question if campus police is capable enough to protect a university’s enormous student body? Another commonly discussed issue is if concealed handguns actually do deter crime, and if they are capable of aiding in stopping a mass shooting spree? Or if guns on campus, carried by fellow classmates would make students as a whole feel more cautious or on the opposing hand make students feel more secure with guns carried on campus? If guns are allowed on campus, how will this affect a growing student’s ideology? These questions and many more are highly spoken of in our social media based generation, the answers to these questions help to improve our knowledge on this debate of concealed carry on college campuses, which will lead us to form our own individual opinions on this debate topic based on the facts and evidence presented.

With the recent history of gun violence on college campuses, questions have been raised on how incidents like these can best be prevented. One proposed solution is allowing firearms to be carried on campuses. With many states passing the open carry law, the topic of guns on campus has become a major issue; however, there are many reasons to why allowing guns to be carried on campus would not help prevent situations like these. A college campus is a place where individuals of different maturity levels come to learn and develop. Research has shown that college students are not fully developed in regards to impulse and judgment, so allowing a student to be able to carry a gun would not be a logical choice. In addition, allowing guns on campus could lead to an increase in reckless shooting incidents, an increase in gun related crimes, and add to the difficulty to law enforcement personnel. A college campus needs to be a safe place for all. To ensure the safest environment for college students, guns should not be able to be carried on campus with the exception to law enforcement.

Due to the significant number of violent shootings on college campuses in the past recent years, many have argued that both students and teachers should be allowed to carry a concealed handgun on campus to defend themselves. They believe it will help stop shootings and make campuses safer, but will it? These people who are suggesting this are only thinking about their own safety and not thinking about the consequences that will flourish due to guns on campus. Guns on campus would not only lead to an escalation in violent crimes, but will lead to an increase in the number of incidents. Allowing people to bring guns on college campuses won’t solve anything; instead we should be limiting the amount of weapons to make it a safer environment for both students and teachers.

In reading the essay titled, “Guns Don’t Belong in the Hands of Administrators, Professors, or Students,” the author addresses the concern for safety on college campuses. The author Jesus M. Villahermosa Jr., who was a deputy sheriff for Pierce County Sheriff's Department for thirty-three years of dedicated service until he retired in 2014. Certifications include: being the first certified Master Defensive Tactics Instructor for law enforcement personnel in the state of Washington, serving as a Firearm's Instructor, and an Active Shooter Instructor. Villahermosa not only discusses important questions when considering the terms of firearms on campus, and in the hands of administration and faculty but offers his experience, while informing the reader, of the likeliness of more heightened danger due to inadequate training which could potentially lead to death and other repercussions for the person holding the firearm.

The average college student carries notebooks, a laptop, and maybe some snacks or water in their backpack, what if it held a gun? Although many guns rights activists support the new Open Carry Bill 910 that allows concealed guns on college campuses, gun control laws should be enforced rather than be made ineffectual because guns are rarely used in self defense, it would decrease the number of gun deaths, and the average college student isn’t responsible enough to carry a gun.

When a person thinks of the United States, the first thing they think of is guns. The American population has an unbridled affection with carrying and owning the weapon. Recently, the Texas Legislature passed a bill commonly known as the S.B. No.11, on June, 2015. The bill allows for the carrying of a concealed handgun on all public college campuses; the carriers have to be licensed within the State of Texas. To qualify for a Concealed Handgun License (CHL), a person would have to be at least 21 years of age, have not been convicted of a felony, and have to be a resident of the state (Texas Dept. of Safety pg. 5-7). After obtaining a CHL, the person may carry a concealed firearm on public college campuses. To be considered concealed, the weapon

Have you turned on the news lately? The fight against and for guns on campus its once again in the spotlight. Right here is Arizona, at present, the carrying of firearms, whether concealed or otherwise, is banned on most college campuses. However, several groups, including some organized by students, have recently campaigned for changes in university policy to allow students to carry firearms on college property. “””” Recently Student Government at ASU’s Tempe campus created the survey Jan. 27,2016 to get students opinions on whether they support concealed weapons on campus, the survey was regarding House Bill 2072, sponsored by Rep. Sonny Borelli (R-Bullhead City) would allow students and faculty to carry concealed weapons on college campuses. The survey conducted of 659 ASU students that found roughly 69 percent for wanting to vote yes on this bill which would allow concealed and carry on college campuses”” (Kimbel-Sannit).

Imagine going into fight or flight mode because a gun is present during a classroom debate. An educational environment such as a college campus is a place of freedom where a person's intellectual mind should run wild. Because of this guns should not be allowed on college campuses for three reasons; firstly guns pose more of a risk to students and faculty, secondly the obliterate the friendly processes of learning environments and, lastly arrogant college students simply aren’t responsible enough to handle them.

When pondering guns we tend to think whether the Second Amendment, the right to bear arms, would be taken away. Whether or not to allow concealed weapons on college campuses has been a debated topic for many years. Whether we should allow conceal and carry on campuses seems like a hard debate for many reasons, one such as whether it would be safe to allow college students to be armed with weapons. Several colleges lately have been allowing conceal and carry on their college campuses. Conceal and carry used to be a topic that not many people thought would come up when talking about colleges and where to go. The recent shootings have sparked a debate over whether to allow conceal and carry on college campuses. Like many people who are about to

Watching the news and reading the newspaper will proclaim that gun violence has lead to uncontrollable measures. Everytime I turn on the television there is a shooting, and the results are always someone getting killed. Clubs, Schools, and even in my own neighborhood are the places that are singled out the most. Guns on a college campus deflexes the purpose of instututional learning, it’s very dangerous to the school, students and administratives. Although there are dangers on university campuses, students should not be allowed to carry concealed handguns because guns on campus lead to an escalation in violent crime, distraction from the learning environment and more suicides.

“Colleges and universities occupy a special place in American society. They are much more than a series of buildings and collection of individuals. Instead, they are dynamic living and learning environments where individuals with varying levels of maturity interact, often under stressful circumstances. While recognizing the right of responsible individuals to possess firearms under other circumstances, the unique characteristics of a university campus make the presence of firearms problematic. The shootings that have occurred in recent years at US colleges and universities have generated passionate debate about how best to prevent such violence and whether persons should be allowed to carry concealed guns on campuses. Experts believe there is no credible evidence that students or staff carrying guns would reduce crime. In fact, research has shown that the brains of most college students have not fully developed regarding impulse control and judgment” (Dickerson). Therefore, guns should not be allowed on college campuses because it would lead to an escalation in violent crime, distract from the learning environment, and lead to accidental discharge incidents.

There have been 45 shootings at schools so far this year; August 8 there was two shoot-ings. As more shootings happen, people start to realize that something should be done about gun control and the way guns are handled in a public, especially a school, or even be allowed outside of the holders’ private property. Many students don’t like the idea of open-carry or concealed carry, most students would feel uneasy and anxious at the thought of a professor or a student car-rying a weapon and being able to open fire at any moment. It is argued that if students and pro-fessors were allowed to carry a weapon on campus, in the event of a shooting, the shooter would quickly be neutralized, saving many lives. This would however cause conflict with students who are against guns, putting their lives in danger if

Gun control has been a pressing issue in America. The number of killings and mass shootings has been higher than ever. Yet, the new agreement has been guns on campuses where gun activists have been successful in legalizing firearms for students and faculty on college campus throughout America. These gun laws allow students age twenty one and older and faculty to be given training and carry a firearm and concealed weapons on a college campus. The laws differ depending on the state, some allow firearms everywhere and some have restrictions. However, all schools must have areas where weapons are not allowed, like football stadiums or health clinics where there may be minors. Students and faculty legally carrying firearms on college campus

In 1924, when presidential candidate Robert La Follete was asked if he supported or opposed gun control, he replied: “Our choice is not merely to support or oppose gun control, but to decide who can own which guns under what conditions” (GALE). The question of gun control has been one America has struggled with for ages. Currently one of the hottest debate topics, access to firearms is an issue that people have formed thousands of different opinions on. As stated by La Follete, it is not just an issue of yes or no- it is a more complicated topic with circumstances that vary depending on location, personal beliefs, and many other factors.