Preview

Guns On College Campuses Essay

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
836 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Guns On College Campuses Essay
The stance on the prevention of firearms on college campuses is being questioned due to recent school shootings. Colleges in Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Mississippi, Oregon, Utah, Texas, and Wisconsin allow students to carry firearms on their campuses. Ninety-three percent of crimes that involve college students as victims happen off campus (armedcampuses.org)(citation). However, these off-campus incidences may occur while the students are walking back to wherever they live. If they aren't allowed to carry a handgun on campus, they are most likely to not have it on their person after a day of school. People would argue that self-defense training, Tasers, and pepper spray are as effective as a handgun against an armed assailant. I do not agree with this statement and I will explain why in the following paragraphs. I will also be going over whether or not college …show more content…
Statistically, colleges are one of the safest places in America and the argument is that guns on campus are unnecessary, however, on (concealedcampus.org), it stated that the college lifestyle includes alcohol and drugs. For example, a student may be drunk or high and that student may start harassing another person with no way for defending themselves. If that student being harassed had a firearm or a security guard had a firearm, the incidence could have been avoided. In order to prevent a drug addict or alcoholic obtaining a gun, I propose that there be an evaluation including a background check, personal history, and a psychiatric evaluation. There have been twenty-three shootings on college campuses in 2015 alone, seventeen of which occurred at colleges that prohibited guns on their campuses, according to (time.com). The theory that the prohibition of guns on campus would actually get rid of guns is flawed given the majority of the shootings happened on campuses where guns were already outlawed. Guns on campus may actually make colleges

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    In the article “Students, Guns and Politics” by Allie Grasgreen, she describes the debate on college campuses whether or not students should be allowed to conceal carry firearms. It seems that Grasgreen’s position on the debate is neutral, she cites arguments from both sides but does not take a stance herself. In my opinion, I do not think the best course of action against gun violence is to necessarily evoke a policy such as conceal carry, since this allows more access to firearms and their presence on a campus community. Though I do understand that gun owners have their own rights, I just do not see the necessity, and I believe there should be more steps in general for people to obtain firearms. Even if there was perhaps a situation where…

    • 302 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    However, the benefit of having concealed weapons allowed on campus is proven by the fact that 26 colleges and universities, in Utah and in Colorado, a total70 campuses, currently allowing concealed carry on campus have not been a single report of shootouts, accidents or heated conflicts. In fact, rather than causing crime as feared, Colorado State University’s crime rate has declined steadily since allowing concealed carry weapons. Allowing concealed weapons does not increase risk. To the contrary, it presents an advantage; it reduces crime and violence. Statistics and fact repudiate the fallacy that concealed weapons on campus will increase…

    • 1167 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    This Article discusses weather or not the carrying of a concealed handgun should be allowed on campus, And the explanation to the safety of the students and how they feel about it. Studies have shown that students carrying guns are more likely to be white males, engaging in risky behaviors and binge drinking, be in trouble with the law, and attend college in southern and mountain states. This is your average student that is usually found with these concealed weapons…

    • 1484 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Should anyone be allowed to carry a firearm on a school campus? There is a need to know more facts surrounding the concept of guns on campus. A person must determine their stance on this and why they believe that. This paper is not designed to persuade a person but let them become aware of things they may not have…

    • 61 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    A number of people get killed in different campus. Some states are allowed to carry a gun on campus and others are not. Campus should be a safe place for students and they should feel safe when they are going to the campus. There are many crimes happen on campus because of problem with two students or two groups and the students use their gun and start to kill each other. Also, there are many terrorists mean to school and killed people because those campuses are free gun. So, is it good or bad thing to carry gun on campus? What happen when government allowed students to carry gun on campuses? Will carry gun on campus make the campuses safe or dangers place? Students should not carry weapons on campuses.…

    • 363 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gun Free Zone

    • 410 Words
    • 2 Pages

    He states that “Mass killers have [even] explicitly talked about the desire to attack gun-free zones. The Charleston, S.C., church shooting in June was instead almost a college shooting. But the killer changed his plans after realizing that the college of Charleston had armed guards,” (1), meaning if the college allowed the students to carry guns the shooter would have never thought of attacking the college. Lott mentions that “Oregon laws [allows] permitted concealed handguns on university property, but public educators have undermined the law by putting bans in faculty and student handbooks. For students and faculty, the threat of expulsion or termination is surely threat enough. Faculty members may lose not only their jobs but also their career,” (2-3), meaning that the students and faculty cannot be seen with a gun or they would have to face long term consequences that would impact them significantly.…

    • 410 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Guns on a school campus is an issue with two clear sides, those who support allowing concealed weapons and those who rally for gun free zones. David Burnett supports the idea of allowing students to carry concealed weapons. Burnett’s central argument is that gun free zones leave students defenseless. Darby Dickerson disagrees, saying students do not understand the responsibilities of owning a weapon and should therefore, not be allowed to carry them on campus.…

    • 481 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    How safe are students on campus? Today, many universities state-wide are gun free and considered safe locations. According to David Skorton and Glenn Altschuler's article, "Do We Really Need More Guns On Campus?," "colleges and universities are far safer than most public spaces in the United States." However, there are others who believe colleges would be safer with concealed gun carry. A group, Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, who goes against this idea argues in their article "College Campuses Are Less Safe Without Concealed Weapons" that a professor that is licensed shouldn’t be obligated to be a victim when they have the right to defend themselves. The argument doesn't mention how permitted gun carry would only possibly stop shootings…

    • 166 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Will having students carrying handguns on campus actually make students feel safer? Texas Senate recently passed a bill that all students at least 21 years of age with a license to carry concealed handguns will be allowed to carry their weapons on college and university campuses. Legislation allowing handguns on campus violates the sense of protection students feel when at school, leaving many questioning civility. In April of 2007, Virginia Tech experienced one of the deadliest shooting In U.S history by a student, leaving 20 people injured and 32 slain.…

    • 673 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Concealed Carry

    • 727 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Up to what extent would you go for protection? Many colleges and universities have to come to a controversial argument on whether guns should be allowed on campus. The Students for Gun Free Schools (SGFS) is one of two organizations who is involved in this controversial argument. The SGFS is against the idea of students carrying guns on campus because they believe, as stated in their motto, they are “armed with knowledge, not guns!” (Kirszner and Mandell 633). The other organization is the Students for Concealed Carry (SCC). The SCC is pro-gun concealed carry organization that formed because of the unforgettable and horrendous incidents that have happened in the past years. The idea of guns on campus should not be tolerated because it may cause more collateral damage since the shooters won’t have enough experience, it can cause an interruption and distraction in everyone’s college education, and more permits would be more accessible to non-law abiding citizens.…

    • 727 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Having guns on campus would not be a very healthy learning environment. When students sit in a classroom, they should not have the fear of one of their classmates pulling out a gun. If students are too busy thinking about guns being on campus, it could distract them from actually working. This issue might even extend to not wanting to go to school because they feel unsafe and uncomfortable. Also not a very healthy teaching environment for teachers. The teachers might be scared that a student would pull a gun out on him or her…

    • 455 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Concealed carry anywhere has been a highly controversial topic for many years. In the back and forth of this heated debate, multiple subcategories have arisen. One of which is whether universities should allow student or staff to carry concealed handguns on campus. This is a strange debate topic because the obvious answer is no. Just a few of the reasons are an increase in crimes of passion, a possible increase in school shootings, and a high risk for robbery and assault.…

    • 622 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Gun Free Zones

    • 771 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Of those 160, 39 have been at places of education with 12 on college campuses. Other places include mostly gun free zones such as places of business, government and health facilities. Most recently Umpqua Community College was devastated by a shooter who opened fire on their campus. Despite the campus being a gun free zone ten lives were lost due to gun violence(3). We might ask ourselves why this tragedy took place. Why did our laws not prevent the shooter from hurting innocent people? It is my understanding that laws are only followed by those willing to follow them. Placing a “gun free zone” sign in front of a college only signals that the people on campus are unprotected. Someone who is determined to take as many lives as possible sees this as an easy target. With a low chance of resistance they would be able to accomplish their goal. We should ask ourselves how secure we would feel if we were told we had to leave our front doors wide open and place a “Do not steal” sigh in front of our homes. Since the tragedy Umpqua Community College has hired County deputy Scott Batsch to patrol the campus (4). Although it is unlikely a shooter would strike the campus again the presents of an armed person reassures the safety of those who work at and attend the college. In order to make a gun free zone safe you need those who are…

    • 771 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Guns On Campus

    • 503 Words
    • 3 Pages

    In the article, “Texas Lawmakers Pass a Bill Allowing Guns at Colleges”, written by Manny Fernandez and Dave Montgomery, from the The New York Times, the author discuss about whether guns should be allowed on campus. In the article, they talk about two opposing sides, where one side supports the campus carry law and the other disagrees with the campus carry law. State representative Jonathan Stickland said, “An armed society is a safe society, so any time you have gun control, there is far more opportunity to become victims”. While there is another side where they do not support the campus carry law. An admiral named William H. McRaven said, “I have all sorts of guns. I just don’t think bringing guns on campus is going to make us any safer.” Texas lawmakers made an egregious mistake when they passed a law, allowing guns on college campuses.…

    • 503 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    On one side, people oppose the right of concealed carry on campus stating reasons such as this one presented by Concealed Campus, “It’s unlikely that allowing concealed carry on college campuses could help prevent a Virginia Tech-style massacre because most college students are too young to obtain a concealed handgun license,” (Common). That statement is incorrect and quite misleading. “Nineteen of the thirty-two victims of the Virginia Tech tragedy were of or over the age of twenty-one” which is the minimum age to receive a concealed weapons permit in most states (Common). Another common argument against concealed carry on campuses is, “Life on college campuses often involves some drug use and alcohol consumption that could impair the judgment of a law-abiding gun owner,” posted by The Warrior (Umpir). However, each state that gives concealed weapons permits has laws prohibiting license holders from carrying while under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Anyone who knows anything about guns would know this.…

    • 658 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays