Matthew Hurt
This week, the Virginia Citizens Defense League will be hosting a rally at Virginia Tech in support of allowing concealed carry on campus. The rally is called “Virginia Tech-No Guns? No Funds! Operation Campus Safety Protest.” The basic message that VCDL is trying to convey is that Tech should allow concealed carry on campus so students can better protect themselves if they choose.
With the tragic events that unfolded on our campus in 2007, it is understandable that this is a rather contentious issue among the Tech community. There are many opponents to allowing concealed carry on campus, which is also understandable. However, I believe these opponents are terribly misinformed. I fully support the notion of allowing students to carry a concealed weapon on the Tech campus and all other college campuses.
How exactly are anti-concealed carry policies benefitting schools and colleges? They’re not, that’s how. Creating these gun-free zones is not making us any safer. Tech is a gun-free campus, but that didn’t stop Seung-hui Cho from murdering 32 of our fellow Hokies. Columbine High School is a gun-free zone as well, but try telling that to the two guys who shot and killed several of their classmates.
It’s not in light of these tragedies that we must change our policies; I would never try to politicize these horrific and unnecessary deaths. These policies should have been different all along.
Let’s all be honest with ourselves: Do we always follow all the rules? Just because the speed limit sign on I-81 says 65 mph, does that mean you won’t occasionally drive faster than that on your way home for Thanksgiving break? Mass shootings have occurred in several “gun-free zones.”
Let’s actually look into some of the more specific arguments as to why people don’t think concealed carry should be allowed on college campuses. Many believe that allowing guns on campus would lead to increases in violent crime. Concealed carry has been allowed on 20 campuses in Utah since 2006, at Colorado State University since 2003, and at Blue Ridge Community College in Virginia since 1995. Since implementing these policies, not one single incident involving gun violence has occurred on any of those campuses.
A version of this article appeared in the Nov 17 issue of the Collegiate Times.
Leave a comment 26 Comments Write a letter to the editor
All letters to the editor must include a name, e-mail, daytime phone number and affiliation to Virginia Tech. Affiliation includes: year and major for students; position and department for faculty and staff; current city for alumni and parents.
OK, let's allow concealed weapons on campus. But the permit holder must pay all cost associated with campus lock downs if anyone spots that gun and reports it, because, of course, we can't assume that any gun on campus belongs to a responsible concealed permit holder.
Reply to this Top
"...of course, we can't assume that any gun on campus belongs to a responsible concealed permit holder."
By that logic, you also can't assume the armed cop walking around campus or the one who is pulling you over is a real cop either. You must base your actions on the totality of the situation. Just because you see a gun means nothing. What is that person doing? Is he/she acting in a threatening manner? Or are they just going about their day? Motor vehicles kill many more people than guns every day, but you don't call police just because there's no guarantee the driver is licensed or skilled. Once evidence is presented that the driver may be real danger to others, then it is time to call authorities.
Reply to this Top
"Anon", we can completely solve the problem with people "spotting" guns by keeping those nosy people from looking in our coats, backpacks, down in our pants, and other places we carry CONCEALED! Quit profiling us already.
Reply to this Top
Ok, seriously? Jason Campbell literally uses no logic in this article. Both sides (pro and anti concealed carry) are completely legitimate, and it's a hard issue to decide on. But rather than talking about actual merits of anti-gun laws, Jason hyperbolizes everything. He calls proponents of this "morally deranged." Not to mention "morally perverse," "horrifying," etc. Comparisons to the Westboro Baptist Church? How inflammatory can you get?
I would have loved to hear actual arguments for the anti-concealed carry side. I know there are some good ones, but this was just an awful attempt at rhetoric.
Reply to this Top
I completely agree with the above comment. Mr. Campbell gives no actual reasons why allowing concealed-carry on campus is dangerous, other than a vague and unsupported (in this article) claim that it upsets the balance between freedom and safety. I honestly wanted to agree with his side of the issue more, but he fails to make any sort of articulate case for his position. It really disappoints me to see name-calling passing as legitimate journalism.
Reply to this Top
Really?
"This brings us to the more horrifying aspect of this disgusting protest: the fact that the VCDL have the audacity to come to this campus. When I first heard about this protest I almost had to stand back in awe over its moral contempt. The offensive nature and sheer callousness by which this organization dares to come here is paralleled only by the ethical perversion of the Westboro Baptist Church’s protest here last year."
You have the AUDACITY to say that? REALLY? The laws you are arguing for keeping were in place when 32 people were slaughtered that day. The same laws in place today, that you are arguing for. Tell me how those laws deter criminals? Then tell me how I'm an a**hole for standing up for common sense, and more importantly, my individual liberties. This is disgusting. I pray to all that is holy that you sir, never get a job at a legitimate media source. It is quite apparent that your best source of reasoning stems from your illogical fear of an inanimate object. Good luck living your life that way....
Reply to this Top
Not everyone feels carrying a dangerous weapon is "common sense".
Regarding "my individual liberties": A few dead white guys voted for muskets two hundred years ago. Jefferson said the republic should be reaffirmed with a new vote every generation, and many in this generation do not agree with your antiquated views about firearms.
I don't have a problem with reasonable people protecting themselves. But, your comment undermines your own argument. You clearly have anger issues, Mr. Smith, and you probably should not be carrying a weapon in public.
Reply to this Top
He'll probably start off working for the Rachel Maddow show then take over for "The Ed" when he retires.
Reply to this Top
Eric, you have to remember he is a philosophy major. Engineers like us can back an argument with real data and facts rather than making retarded statements with absolutely no basis whatever. I will be out at the protest today.
Reply to this Top
This comment has been buried by moderation (show comment)
Reply to this Top
This comment has been buried by moderation (show comment)
Reply to this Top
Jason Campbell's article was one of the stupidest things I have ever read. He did not present a single coherent thought throughout his entire rambling. I guess this is what happens when a philosophy major tries to present an argument. Next time use facts and numbers!
Reply to this Top
Mr Campbell, what you've just said is one of the most insanely idiotic things I have ever heard. At no point in your rambling, incoherent response were you even close to anything that could be considered a rational thought. Everyone in this room is now dumber for having listened to it. I award you no points, and may God have mercy on your soul.
Reply to this Top
Brian. I love you for this comment. ODOYLE RULES
Reply to this Top
haha, snl!
Reply to this Top
I think you mean Billy Madison haha
Top
I have to congratulate you, Mr. Campbell. You've managed to write an entire two pages of article and managed to come up with absolutely no intellectual thoughts. Not just anyone can do that.
It's like someone mentioned on these comments already.. guns were banned on campus at the time of the 2007 shooting. Do you really think that some stupid regulation is going to stop an insane person from walking into a school building and doing the exact same thing all over again? No. But a person with a concealed gun will. In the time period it takes police to respond to an incident, dozens could be dead. It's times like that you have to fight fire with fire. And I personally think that the people arguing against concealed carry are the same ones who are scared to fire a gun themselves and get familiar with using one. People, educate yourselves, take a hunter's safety course, get out on a shooting range. People fear what they do not understand. If you put the effort in to get comfortable around firearms, you might feel differently about the subject.
Reply to this Top
I think it's more than an unfamiliarity with firearms, I think it's an aversion to, or lack of personal responsibility. There's a lot of people, like the OWS folks for example, that believe that everything should be provided for them, including security. People with common sense realize that crime can happen anywhere at anytime, and the only ones responsible for your safety, is yourself.
Reply to this Top
Anonymous, you are right. Unfortunately people don't realize that by the time the security they are provided arrives at the scene of the crime, it is usually too late to prevent the crime.
Top
I am not really for or against concealed carry, I don't really care either way. But I will say that Mr. Campbell's attempt at making a logical, coherent, and persuasive editorial ended in absolute failure. At no point did you produce any rational thought as to why guns shouldn't be allowed on campus.
My cousin is an FBI agent who I have visited several times over the last 2 years and I only found out that he has a Glock on him 24/7 last month. If you are under the impression that our campus will turn into Mogadishu-burg if concealed carry is allowed, you are out of your mind.
Reply to this Top
really - jerry sandusky? now you're comment can't be taken seriously. if you were being serious in the context, your choice of names makes you look like a jokester and as such, so does the context of what you wrote. secondly, if the context was meant to be a joke in that you are referencing him and trying to make him look like a pro-gun advocate as a parody, do better within the context of what you wrote to make it obvious.
Reply to this Top
My name is Jerry Sandusky, its a coincidence.
Top
My son goes to ECU and I wish he was able to conceal a gun for his and everyone's else's protection. Were do most "bad" things happen? Where you can't conceal...like banks, state fair, parks, college/schools, bars(in NC), and any other place that charges an admission.
Reply to this Top
Yes Anonymous, I've been annoyed by North Carolina's concealment laws for years. I describe them as the debris left on the floor when you clean out a junky area. You forgot about not being able to carry in a funeral procession... like that has anything to do with anything. You can't carry in recreation areas there either. Virginia doesn't have any of those ridiculous rules and we have no problems whatsoever with those places becuase of the lack of rules. For help with NC's tyrannical laws, look up Grass Roots North Carolina.
Reply to this Top
sadsdfads fsadf sad sd fsd
Reply to this Top
When Rep. Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the rampage in Arizona earlier this year, concealed carry was legal in Arizona. TWO members of the public, less than ten feet away, were legally carrying handguns. What could they do to stop the shooter? Nothing.
I hope this article is some sort of a joke. Virginia Tech deserves no sympathy for the massacres if they implement this.
Reply to this Top