2008 Woodie Awards
Campus shootings prompt concealed carry legislation
Andrew Dose
Issue date: 8/12/08 Section: News
FORT COLLINS, Colo. (U-WIRE) - Following a string of campus shootings last year, universities and colleges across the nation have taken to examining the safety policies of their campus, including allowing students to carry concealed weapons on campus, a practice banned in most states.
The issue has achieved debate in the state legislatures of both Virginia and Illinois, and has turned many eyes towards the few campuses that have legalized concealed carry.
Last year in Utah, state government enacted a bill legalizing concealed carry on campuses across the state, a decision that has yet to result in a documented incident.
Colorado State University is one of the few campuses where students are permitted to carry concealed weapons, granted they carry a carrying concealed weapon permit. The policy allows students with a permit to carry their handgun most places on campus including classrooms but not residence halls.
On campus
Anthony Ryan, a senior art major and campus leader for CSU's chapter of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, says it might help increase security if students started carrying guns on campus.
"I think it could happen anywhere, and that's why I think the administration here at CSU and the campus police department allow us to do what we do," Ryan said. "They know it is a possibility."
The issue, Ryan told The Rocky Mountain Collegian, is one that affects all students.
"This isn't just about active shooters," he said. "This isn't just about [Virginia Tech] and [University of Northern Illinois] scenarios. This is about any kind of protection from any kind of an assault. We can't say that there's not going to be an active shooter, we can't say that there isn't going to be an assault."
Some students, however, feel less safe on a campus that permits concealed carry.
Mark Spowart, a freshman open option major, said he felt uncomfortable with the fact that anyone with a concealed weapons permit was allowed to carry a gun at CSU.
The issue has achieved debate in the state legislatures of both Virginia and Illinois, and has turned many eyes towards the few campuses that have legalized concealed carry.
Last year in Utah, state government enacted a bill legalizing concealed carry on campuses across the state, a decision that has yet to result in a documented incident.
Colorado State University is one of the few campuses where students are permitted to carry concealed weapons, granted they carry a carrying concealed weapon permit. The policy allows students with a permit to carry their handgun most places on campus including classrooms but not residence halls.
On campus
Anthony Ryan, a senior art major and campus leader for CSU's chapter of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, says it might help increase security if students started carrying guns on campus.
"I think it could happen anywhere, and that's why I think the administration here at CSU and the campus police department allow us to do what we do," Ryan said. "They know it is a possibility."
The issue, Ryan told The Rocky Mountain Collegian, is one that affects all students.
"This isn't just about active shooters," he said. "This isn't just about [Virginia Tech] and [University of Northern Illinois] scenarios. This is about any kind of protection from any kind of an assault. We can't say that there's not going to be an active shooter, we can't say that there isn't going to be an assault."
Some students, however, feel less safe on a campus that permits concealed carry.
Mark Spowart, a freshman open option major, said he felt uncomfortable with the fact that anyone with a concealed weapons permit was allowed to carry a gun at CSU.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 7
Drew Carlen
posted 8/12/08 @ 8:29 AM CST
Mark Spowart needs to realize the reality of the situation: a "nut" who is going to "unload on a crowd" is not going to bother with getting a permit to carry a concealed weapon. (Continued…)
Paul Ready
posted 8/12/08 @ 8:38 AM CST
Heyne needs to get his facts straight. There are just under 30,000 gun related deaths in the US annually. The portion of those related to someone with a carry permit is diminished by several orders of magnitude. (Continued…)
John (SCCC Member from Illinois/Colorado)
posted 8/12/08 @ 1:52 PM CST
Heyne is completely WRONG. There are around 30,000 gun related deaths per year, in the US. About half of those are suicides.
Numerous studies have shown that citizens with concealed carry licenses are 5 times less likely to be convicted of a crime than the average citizen. (Continued…)
Jonesy
posted 8/12/08 @ 1:54 PM CST
Everyone who thinks this is a bad idea needs to look at the other side a little more closely. Ms Taylor says because we have police we should feel safe. (Continued…)
David
posted 8/15/08 @ 9:23 AM CST
Everyone needs real facts. Go here: http://www.gunfacts.info/
Conceal Carry Permits means the person not only has some training, but passes a background check by the county sheriff and the FBI. (Continued…)
Mike
posted 8/21/08 @ 5:36 PM CST
"it's an issue where our family members are dying because the access to guns is too easy in America."
Is the real issue not the degredation of the value system here in the US that leads people to commit the crime in the first place regardless of the means they use to perpetrate the offense?
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