2008 Woodie Awards
Concealed Weapons on Campus Would Endanger Everyone
Jessica Bourse
Issue date: 5/14/08 Section: Opinion
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"Students for Concealed Carry on Campus is a national, non-partisan, grassroots organization," says the coalition's Web site, "…who support the right of concealed handgun license holders to carry concealed handguns on college campuses."
That's right - guns allowed on college campuses. Are we in the Twilight Zone?
For years, law enforcement and the education system have programmed us to react a certain way toward weapons in school, the golden rule being: if you see someone carrying a gun, report it right away. Why? Guns don't belong on campus.
The gun laws in California are fairly strict, only allowing certain people to obtain concealed carry permits, such as law enforcement, money couriers and other selected individuals. Here on campus, weapons of any sort are prohibited, and failure to comply will result in arrest and prosecution.
However, last year, the state of Utah enacted a bill, allowing licensed students to carry concealed weapons onto public college campuses. The bill also prohibits public colleges and universities from placing a ban on bringing weapons to school.
Hypothetically speaking, what if California became like Utah? What if GCC, by law, permitted concealed weapons on campus? Would YOU feel safer?
"I wouldn't feel safer if students were allowed to carry weapons to school," said Lourdes Flores, 23, an administration of justice major. "Too many students would take advantage of that and would bring guns on campus."
If the campus allowed concealed weapons , how would we know who has a permit and who doesn't?
We wouldn't know, because running around for an hourly census would be a ridiculous waste of time. The weapons would be concealed, leaving us in complete oblivion or paranoia, which ever of the two extremes you prefer, about who has a gun.
Does that quiet girl who sits behind you in math class have a gun? Or is it that guy you used to make fun of last semester? Think he might snap?
"People wouldn't just bring guns for protection," said Michelle Phan, 19, a nursing major. "People would start bringing weapons for reasons other than safety, thinking they can solve conflicts between other students and themselves."
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