Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Gun Wielding on Campus

Lawmakers in Texas, and some students are supporting legislation that would allow students to carry (concealed) weapons on campus.

According to a cbs.com article:

"Cameron Schober, a 22-year-old Texas State student, said he wants the right to protect himself if caught in a situation like the one that unfolded on Virginia Tech's campus on April 16, 2007. Seung-Hui Cho, a student, killed 32 people before committing suicide in the deadliest shooting rampage by a single gunman in U.S. history.

'School's not a safe place anymore,' Schober said. 'How horrible would that be to have to sit under a desk and wait for the cops to come.'"

One can understand Schober's point as well as the legislators introducing the bill. However, I'm going to go on record and say my fellow Regenerates and I disagree! Carrying a weapon does not protect students; in fact, it may even endanger more people. Instead of one person's gun threatening the public's safety, multiple guns in the same building creates potential for widespread violence.

There is no doubt that we need to keep students safe. The challenge is finding healthy ways to do so, not one that relies on students' having a gun reflex and further endangering their peers.

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