Joe College meets Dodge City
In a “60 Minutes” report on Sunday night, an opponent of tighter gun laws said, with a straight face, that college students ought to be able to carry concealed firearms on campus.
He was referencing the horrific shootings two years ago at Virginia Tech, and seemed fully convinced that the solution was for everyone on campus to be packing heat.
I have taught college students at one place or another for the better part of 24 years. And I love ’em dearly.
But with all due respect, I shuddered at the thought.
I considered the problems with binge drinking and depression among college students.
I also pictured the same students who were leaping through fires at my alma mater, UNC-Chapel Hill, the other day armed with deadly weapons.
It was not a comforting vision.
For some lawmakers in Texas, it apparently is.
A bill there would allow those licensed to carry concealed weapons to bring them onto college campuses. They say it would help prevent bloody shootings such as those at Virginia Tech, where 32 were fatally shot, and Northern Illinois University, where five were killed and 18 were wounded.
We have had our issues in Greensboro and throughout North Carolina with crime on and near college campuses.
It is a serious problem that requires serious solutions.
Among all of the solutions broached, thankfully not one involves arming students and faculty.
Comments (5)
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Oh, I see: the second amendment shouldn't apply to college campuses. Are there any other amendments you'd like to banish from campus?
Posted on April 15, 2009 3:50 PM
Even constitutional rights are subject to reasonable restrictions.
I cannot bring a weapon onto an aircraft or into my workplace, for instance, whether I have a permit or not.
I'm fine with that.
How about you?
Posted on April 15, 2009 4:11 PM
This would be an especially good idea for those @ A&T, don't you think -
Posted on April 15, 2009 6:23 PM
I all for people having guns.
A wacko liberal professor having a gun, no way.
They showed they are unstable at UNC last night.
Seriously, I am not to much for guns on school campus. The correct answer, I have no idea.
Maybe we should require students to pay full cost of their education. Then maybe they would take their school as serious business, rather than a playground.
Posted on April 15, 2009 10:31 PM
Allen: "I cannot bring a weapon onto an aircraft or into my workplace, for instance, whether I have a permit or not.
I'm fine with that.
How about you?"
Am I fine with that? Well, I think you're probably better off packing heat, what with all the unsavory characters doubtlessly lurking at N&R world headquarters. (I would suggest a stylish weapon--a Walther PPK, e.g.) But since it's private property, it's none of my or the state's business. The N&R could, for example, ban thoughtful conservative logic and it would be fine by me.
Still, I would hope that you, as a journalist, would aspire to a more Hentoffian zeal for protecting constitutional liberties, even the ones you don't care for personally. (Some people don't really like the first amendment.)
Posted on April 16, 2009 11:16 AM