The Debate Over Gun Concealment Should Be Allowed On College Campuses Essay

Annale Renneker also discusses why concealed carry is necessary on college campuses today. Most college campuses are “open”, meaning that practically anyone can walk on to them and many buildings do not have metal detecters or security guards (Renneker 1). She cites the Virginia Tech shooting tragedy where the shooter was not even a student at the college, he simply walked on campus undetected and shot and killed 33 people before killing himself (Renneker 4). It is not difficult for one to enter a college campus and cause harm with a firearm if they intend to do so, anyone who has been on a public American college or university campus has seen non-students passing through at some point. She also cites the Department of Homeland Security’s

The final reason why instructors should be allowed to carry a loaded gun on campus is because it gives students and staff an added sense of security. In a recent study it stated that students are 63% more productive when they are working in an environment that they feel safe in. This is because they are more focused on their work and less focused on their own personal safety. When students feel safe and are able to focus on their schoolwork then there is a much higher success

Guns and schools just don’t mix. Of course, this could be arguable from both sides. Only nine out of our fifty states allow guns on campus. Most private universities have the choice to decide if they want to allow concealed weapons on campuses. As for public institutions with the law in its state, they have no choice. Public institutions only have control of what buildings are limited. There are numerous reasons that it could be beneficial, but it can also be a complete catastrophe just waiting to happen. In today’s society, people feel the need to be more protected because of what’s going on in the world. There have been many reported incidents in regards to guns being abused on school grounds. Guns end lives, so it’s imperative that we understand the rules and why they’re so important. In order for people to really understand the pros and cons of having guns on campus, they first must began to understand its safety hazards, retaliation and prevention mechanism.

In 2007, 32 students and teachers die after being held at gunpoint on the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University by a student, Seung Hui Cho, who attended the school later on dies from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. In all 27 students and 5 faculty members died. I really think that guns shouldn't be allowed on college campuses at all because it will cause a distraction from the learning environment, would lead to an increased number of suicides by college students, a gun might go off by accident, most college students are too young to carry a concealed handgun license, and school shootings don't happen that often and college campuses are very safe so, therefore, there is no need to carry a concealed weapon on a campus.

We are seeing a growing number of states bringing forth campus carry to their legislation. Some states leave it up to the individual college or university to decide to allow concealed carry, while others outright ban it. However, Texas passed Senate Bill 11 which allowed for licensed gun holders to carry a concealed handgun on university grounds. Texas was the eighth state to allow concealed campus carry. Now Georgia and Tennessee are beginning to make efforts. House Bill 280 has recently passed through Georgia’s legislature and is now awaiting the Governor's approval or denial. In Tennessee, full-time employees have been able to carry concealed weapons as of July of 2016, now they are pushing to expand the law to part-time employees as well.

It seems that tragedy and violence across America are becoming all too common in our daily news. Even more tragic is when it is at a school. With the increase in violence across America, it is opening the door to the question of should college campuses allow concealed guns on campus? Allowing concealed guns on campuses is something that may come true at public colleges across Georgia. Recently, the Georgia senate passed a bill by 37-17 that would allow gun owners 21 and over to carry concealed weapons on public college campuses. If Governor Nathan Deal approves the bill it will go into effect (The Associated Press). While some feel this could potentially open the door to more violence, others believe this will give them the ability to protect themselves should the need arise.

The first arguement for concealed guns on campus comes from insiderhighered.com written by Kaitlin Mulhere. She states that so far eleven states are discussing on being able to carry a concealed gun on campus. There has been at least one bill that has been suggested in about half of the fifty states within past few years for guns on campus. So far, seven states have made laws allowing guns on campus. Kaitlin says that there are two views on the issue. One being that it is a constitutional right for one to be able to carry a gun. The second being that it will make campuses safer from shooters and other criminals. It was brought up in the beginning that armed people on campus could commit a mass shooting which worried many people. Kaitlin

Concealed carry permits are not easy to get. Every state that offers concealed carry permits requires that each person first pass a background investigation. These investigations usually take about one month to complete, and require fingerprint, criminal, and psychological background checks to find if an individual has a history of mental illness, criminal record, or fingerprints involved in a crime. After the background investigation is complete, the individual must complete a firearm safety and concealed firearm training course. This course covers not only the safe handling of firearms, but also covers the legal aspects of a persons right to use a weapon in their own defense. Students and faculty already in possession of these permits, have demonstrated they are responsible for their actions and have sufficient training so they won't pull out a gun just to show it off. These people know that carrying a concealed weapon is for self-defense, should only be brandished as a last resort, and comes with added responsibility and consequences if the need arises. Any person that chooses not to accept these additional

Gun control on campuses all across the United States of America has been a controversial and popular debate topic for me ever since I woke up one morning on April 20, 1999 and witnessed, what at that time was the deadliest campus shooting in our history, at that time. Obviously I am talking about the shooting that occurred at Columbine High School in Columbine, Colorado where Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris attacked their school and opened fire on helpless students, brutally murdering 12 students, a teacher, and then killing themselves. I may have been young at the time of the shooting, but it definitely was my first interaction with deadly violence in a campus setting and opened my eyes to the harsh reality of how crazy our world can be at

This issue of campus carry has been around for a long while, because some people believe that guns ensure safety and others believe they bring danger. While on one side, there are pro-gun activists who want to see the college community safe from crime, on the other side stand the peace activists who want to prevent violence on campus caused by guns. The controversy has been brought into the light of the media recently with UT Austin’s legalization of concealed handguns on campus.

Allowing Professors to carry concealed weapons on campus, it could potentially lower the number of victims and tragedies. Cool mentioned how to make the impositions more realistic with certain regulations on the rule; “It would be absurd to allow every college student to be armed. But responsible adult students (including veterans and former police officers) as well as university employees and staff should have that option.” He then also states how people can be intimidated or hesitant and to get a potential threat to

“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.

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.

Governor Greg Abbott plans to sign into law two bills that will expand the rights of

“Your rights shouldn’t change as you step on campus…” Crayle Vanest, Students For Concealed Carry states. If you have your concealed licenses permit you should be able to carry your firearm onto campus. I see college campuses being extremely vulnerable to mass shooting because of the lack of firearms. It is argued that college students would be dangerous if they were allowed to conceal carry on campus, and it would be more of a risk. In my opinion campuses would be safer if students were legally able to conceal carry. In order to have a conceal carry licenses you have to go to class to obtain that. If a student is of age and has their conceal carry licenses permit they shouldn’t be limited to certain places that they are able to carry their