Friday, February 18, 2011
Concealed Carry on College Campuses
Legislation has been introduced in at least nine states, incl. Tex., Fla., Mich. and Ariz. to allow licensed concealed carry on college campuses. Persons who are licensed are no more likely to commit a crime on campus than they are in the community, and the latter are extremely rare. Even then, the crime may have been committed whether the person has the license or not. Rates of both violent and gun crime have been decreasing in spite of the vast increases in the number of guns and introduction of concealed carry licensing laws. Although many administrators and faculty wish it were not the case, both the Second and the First Amendment apply on college campuses. It amazes me how some campuses are so authoritarian. As was often the case when First Amendment rights were denied, the argument of danger to the public is made and is bogus.
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I think I said this before, but it isn't difficult to conceal a handgun well enough and legally within the normal paraphernalia that one carries to classes. If that is done well, the presence of the gun is unknown. If the need arose to use it, what are they going to do, pull your parking sticker? . . . expel you? I don't think that sanction would make it through the courts well if the gun's owner averted a disaster and was legally permitted. It's already questionable whether a law enforcement officer who was attending class while off duty is subject to these restrictions. I AM nervous about mixing guns, frat houses and binge drinking, however.
ReplyDeleteIt'd be interesting to see how many CCW holders who shared off campus housing were connected to such irresponsible mayhem and/or murder. Your nervous feelings are exactly those of anti-gunners who feared blood would flow in the streets if states allowed their residents CCW permits. Their fears not only didn't happen, but as Ray said, crime decreased where CCW laws were passed.
ReplyDeleteThanks Ridgway & 44: It looks like the Texas legislation is very highly likely to pass the lege, and be signed by Gov. Perry. Stay tuned!
ReplyDeleteI hope that Texas does pass this . . . it will be a good test of the implications. My hunch tells me that there will be little, if any, downside and the door will be opened to a fire fight culminating in a foiled or deceased lunatic. One dreadful consequence of course would be that it would be terribly loud for sensitive, liberal ears . . . but memories only linger for those who remain alive.
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