There is new legislation moving forward in Texas and Missouri that would allow for students to carry concealed weapons on campus. The InsideHigherEd article lays out the central debate surrounding this issue:
Proponents of guns on campus suggest that armed students, faculty and staff would help deter or thwart campus shootings. On the other side of the debate are many law enforcement experts and gun control advocates, who say that allowing concealed weapons on campus is tantamount to throwing gasoline on the fire of campus violence and student suicide.
I’ve always been a proponent of expanding concealed carry permits, or at the very least getting rid of “gun free zones” that send clear signals to potential criminals: the people you are planning to attack in this area are completely defenseless. On the other hand, this article raises a good point about the potential for trouble when guns are mixed with alcohol and hot tempers. This point is brought up a lot in the concealed carry debate, and I do obviously see lots of potential issues arising from fraternity party-goers carrying around 9mm Glocks. On the other hand, it is worth mentioning that concealed carry permit holders rarely commit blatant acts of violence with their weapons. They are, after all, usually more responsible citizens who carry around their weapons for personal protection. I think it’s unlikely that college campuses around the country will adopt liberal gun carrying policies anytime soon, but in the meantime, the debate continues.
