Do weapons deserve a spot on college campuses?

The issue of guns and where they should be allowed continues to be a heated debate. It seems that the federal government and anti-gun groups want to limit gun ownership as much as possible. In the meantime, many states are rushing to enact laws that protect their gun rights. One way states plan to do that is by enabling college students to carry guns on campuses.

According to Students for Concealed Carry, some states such as Utah, Colorado, and Mississippi require public colleges to allow campus carry. That may surprise many people as many more states try to enact similar legislation. Recently, Texas joined the list that allows carry on college campuses. Florida and Kansas, just to name a couple, are going through similar processes. Without a doubt, there are advantages and disadvantages to allowing students to carry.

The idea of students carrying on campus has been proposed in response to college shootings. Supporters argue that many shootings take place when the victims are helpless, like college campuses. The idea is that we put firearms in the hands of students and teachers, that way they can defend themselves. Another argument is that people who carry guns are not the people causing harm. Those people are the ones trying to prevent crime; it is the criminals that do not abide by the law. Many people support the idea that they have to protect themselves, because they can’t expect anyone to do it for them. Many people cite the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution; it is their right to carry firearms.

However, there are several disadvantages to college campuses allowing firearms. First, do we want all students to enter the classroom with a gun on their hip? Many students will probably feel uncomfortable if that is the case. Some people will lack the training necessary to carry guns in public, an issue that we deal with outside of campuses. In addition, allowing more people to carry guns would lead a reasonable person to believe that a situation could turn lethal much quicker. It seems to be common practice that retaliation is more extreme when guns are involved. In the heat of the moment a college student could make a bad decision that they will regret. Many would argue that college students are emotional people, and access to guns could be a problem for themselves, dorm staff, or teachers.

Correctly implemented college campus carry laws should be a positive. It should increase protection for college students and teachers. However, we could see major implications if we do not take precaution. The students and teachers carrying need to be familiar with firearms. Special training should be considered for people wishing to express their Second Amendment right on former gun-free zones.