Should universities in states that allow concealed carry in public force universities to allow them in their respective states?

LCpl Steve Wininger — Mon, 20 Oct 2014 19:35:02 -0400

I am working on an article for the campus newspaper where I attend college.

Disclaimer: this thread is not for the purposes of gathering data for my article. Researching and writing this article for my newspaper has peaked my interest and I want to know what the members of RP think.

Our campus recently had two shooting threats in one day and eight days later an actual shooting. This prompted some members of the student government to bring up the issue of allowing those with permits to be allowed to carry their weapons on campus.

I have come across some good arguments on both sides of the issue. What is your opinion about allowing students to carry concealed weapons? Do you think crime on campus will increase, as some have suggested, or do you think concealed carry could be a deterrent to potential shootings and violent crimes.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 21 at 2014 12:44 AM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 21 Oct 2014 00:44:01 -0400

If a state "allows" conceal carry then there should not be any type of restriction as to where it is allowed. I think the state government should withhold any and all funding from the school if they elect to infringe on a person's right to defend themselves. Conceal carry IS a deterrent. Looking at all the states with conceal carry, they are the ones with lower crimes rates versus the states with restrictive firearms laws.

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2014 3:39 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 15:39:25 -0400

Take a look at state universities in Utah. They allow conceal carry on college campuses and have not seen an increase in crime. They have actually seen a decrease in violent crime. A college student should not have to check their 2nd amendment rights at the door to higher education. I did several articles and speeches advocating the acceptance of conceal carry on college campuses. I've been on college campuses when an active shooter scenario was thought to be playing out and as fast as the police can respond it still slower than a competent individual with a conceal carry permit in the building (Not saying that they have to go clearing rooms).

Most mass shootings occur in gun free zones for a reason, easy target because law abiding citizens will be unarmed. If you stop the ban on self defense, those hell bent on destruction will think twice about attacking the harder target.

If you take a look at the research of how many times an active shooter on a college campus or any campus has been stopped by law enforcement you will be surprised to how often law enforcement is able to stop the threat before students/faculty have banded together to stop the threat or the shooter took their own life.

Remember when seconds count, police are minutes away...

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2014 4:35 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 23 Oct 2014 16:35:21 -0400

When I graduated from college I would have said no. Long before you would have a need to carry, I argued, you would witness accidental discharges from someone dropping their backpack just the right way, or someone losing their firearm in the library. This wouldn’t have stopped me from carrying, of course; what the college didn’t know wouldn’t hurt me.

Things have changed. And I haven’t been out of college that long. Earlier this month, there was an incident of robbery, kidnapping, and sodomy of four students at the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Meanwhile, the potential of lone wolf attacks that the media is playing up is very real, and universities are soft targets.

Should universities allow students with a state-issued concealed carry permit to carry on campus? Absolutely. Are those with concealed carry permits already carrying in the absence of such a mandate? Hope so...

Response by COL Vincent Stoneking made Oct 27 at 2014 10:12 AM

COL Vincent Stoneking — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 10:12:47 -0400

Public universities, Yes.
Private universities, No.

Logic: Public universities are public, and run by the state. Rights should not be restricted by governmental entities unless there is 1) a valid public purpose (which isn't just "good intentions") and 2) it is the least rights-restrictive method of attaining said purpose.

Private universities are private entities and are entitled to set rules of conduct on their premises. Even if I think those rules are wrong. Which I do - Private universities shouldn't require people to be defenseless. But the question stated "force" - No, they should not be forced.

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Nov 4 at 2014 2:03 PM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 04 Nov 2014 14:03:57 -0500

I'm of the opinion that concealed carry means that no one knows about it. I do not advertise when or where I carry.

Response by LCpl Mark Lefler made Apr 7 at 2015 12:50 PM

LCpl Mark Lefler — Tue, 07 Apr 2015 12:50:14 -0400

do you really want drunk college students walking around with firearms?