Concealed Carry on Campus
opinion Essay
1637 words
On April 16th 2007 at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute, a student with psychological problems began a two hour killing spree that left 33 dead (Reader). The massacre that occurred at this school is now the worst recorded incident in the history of the United States and eclipses the University of Texas massacre of 1966. In the wake of tragedies like these, students, teachers and administrators propose more measures to make us feel safe on campus. But why weren't these measures in place before? School administrators and police have a responsibility to protect their students and faculty on campus, and these instances clearly shown a lack of fulfilling that responsibility. And yet several campus' refuse to allow law-abiding and responsible students exercise their constitutionally granted right to defend themselves by carrying a concealed weapon.
I myself am a law-abiding student here at North Idaho College. I have been an active member of the National Rifle Association since 1990, and a concealed carry permit holder for the last 10 years. I grew up with my father and grandfather teaching me firearm safety, and I increased my skills in firearm training serving in the United States Marine Corps, qualifying as an expert in both pistol and rifle marksmanship. I served as a primary marksmanship instructor for my battalion, and won medals in two inter-service shooting competitions. Like me, there are students and faculty that are completely qualified, capable and responsible enough to carry a concealed firearm to defend themselves in an extreme emergency, and should be allowed to do so.
I find that there are three main issues involved with the responsible carrying of concealed weapons on campus. First, individuals that hav...
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Dankwa, David. "School Shooting: Negligence Is Central Issue." Best's Review 108.2 (2007): 30. EBSCO. Database. 16 Jul 2011.
Education, U.S. Department of . "Criminal Offenses." Aggregated Data for a Group of Institutions (2009): The Campus Safety and Security Data Analysis Cutting Tool. Database. 14 Jul 2011.
Kopel, David. "The untold triumph of concealed-carry permits." Policy Review. Jul/Aug96.78 (1996): 9. Print.
Reader, Weekly. "A Dark Day in Virginia." Current Events. 106.25 (2007): 2. Print.
Scalia et al, Justice. United States. District of Columbia et al. v. Heller. Washington D.C.: GPO, 2008. Web. 24 Jun 2011. .
In this essay, the author
- Explains that concealed carry permits are not easy to get, and states that they require a background investigation and firearm safety and concealed firearm training course.
- Compares the number of forcible rapes and aggravated assaults committed on campus to non-campus crimes. campus security and emergency phones are ineffective against an armed assailant.
- Explains that the second amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms for the purposes of self-defense.
- Opines that schools have a duty to warn and protect students from criminal acts of third persons.
- Explains scalia et al. v. heller. washington d.c.: gpo, 2008.
- Opines that the virginia polytechnic institute massacre is the worst in the united states and eclipses the university of texas massacre of 1966.
- Opines that lawsuits against colleges and universities for negligence surrounding preventable crimes on campus' against students and faculty succeed, which results in institutions paying millions of dollars in damages.
- Cites alito et al v. city of chicago, and dankwa, david. "school shooting: negligence is central issue."
Related
- analytical
- opinion
- argumentative
- explanatory
- Why Are Guns On College Campuses?analytical essayDuring the course of our lives, humans tend to become so familiar with the daily routine that when an unexplained incident occurs, we panic and are not prepared since ultimately; it is probably something we’ve never been exposed to. Tragic examples of this are the killings of innocent people whom we care for in environments where security and education are supposed to be the priority. In our eyes campuses are protected by those who wear uniforms and are trained professionals that are ready to deal with such situations, so why allow a law that will grant any civilian the right to carry guns on campus, letting them choose when to use lethal force and afflict innocent students who are scared for their lives? I say this should not be allowed because there is conclusive evidence that explains why guns on college campuses are a faulty concept.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that guns on college campuses are a faulty concept because they are protected by uniforms and trained professionals who are ready to deal with such situations.
- Analyzes how the national organization students for concealed carry (scc) proudly believes that the right to bear arms is a constitutional right.
- Analyzes how both sides agree that mass shootings and innocent lives taken away on campuses are an issue that simply cannot be ignored.
- Explains that 24 percent of college students had thought about attempting suicide, and 5 percent had actually attempted to kill themselves.
- Analyzes how students for gun-free schools state their uneasiness in an essay titled "why our campuses are safer without concealed handguns".
- Concludes that the oppositional viewers who support such claims refuse to see the true facts about the dangerous situations they intend to put students through.
1095 wordsRead More - Should Guns Be Allowed On Campus Essayopinion essayConcealed Weapons should be permitted on College Campuses Gun-control laws are a very controversial topic right now in the U.S., especially when it comes to allowing concealed-carry holders on college campuses. Nevertheless, guns should be permitted for concealed carry on college campuses if the carriers have concealed-carry licenses because mass shootings occur mostly in gun-free zones. There have been many incidents in which concealed-carry holders have disarmed attackers, and concealed-carry holders are overwhelmingly law-abiding citizens. However, the argument’s opponents believe guns should not be allowed on college campuses for various reasons, including: professors might be afraid to issue bad grades, a gun may go off by accident, college
In this essay, the author
- Argues that guns should be permitted for concealed carry on college campuses if the carriers have concealed-carry licenses because mass shootings occur mostly in gun-free zones.
- Opines that professors shouldn't be afraid to give bad grades to students legally carrying guns when there could be a student illegally carrying one. laws are based on facts, not feelings
- Opines that guns should not be allowed on campus because they may go off by accident. students for concealed carry reports only three accidental discharges on 150 college campuses.
- Explains that some people believe guns should not be allowed on campus because college is emotionally active, and people would get into shootouts over stupid and minute things. however, after concealed-carry laws were passed, some law-enforcement officials admitted they were wrong.
- Explains that since 2006, there have been 160 college campuses that have allowed concealed carry. the national research council did a study on the correlation between firearms and violence.
- Explains that a study done by brian stafford, 20th director of the u.s. secret service, said students and others who do mass shootings don't just "snap" into killing sprees.
- Concludes that there is no reason why concealed weapons should not be allowed on college campuses. the evidence shows that people who use guns know how to operate them, and most law enforcement officials are in favor of allowing people to carry guns.
824 wordsRead More - Pros And Cons Of Concead Gun Control In College Campusesanalytical essayThere is a saying that says, “Why fix something that isn’t broke?” In other words, if something is doing good the way it is already then don’t change it. The same applies with concealed gun carry on college campuses. If college campuses have been statistically proven to be one of the safest public places, then why try to fix them by bringing concealed guns into campuses. I believe that there should not be concealed handguns allowed in college campuses because it will make students more unsafe, would make the learning environment in class a very unhealthy experience, and cause trouble for the campus police to spot a real shooter.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that there should not be concealed handguns allowed in college campuses because it would make students more unsafe, make the learning environment in class a very unhealthy experience, and cause trouble for the campus police.
- Argues that there should be concealed gun carry in college campuses because it will make students safer in a risky situation by making them able to shoot down and stop the shooter.
- Argues that both sides agree that college campuses are one of the safest public places. students for concealed carry, an organization for concealed gun carry on campus, states that colleges and universities are safe sanctuaries for learning.
- Opines that students should not be allowed to carry concealed guns to college campuses because it will make an unsafe environment for everyone in the campus.
- Opines that having concealed guns in college campuses will also make students feel uncomfortable during class discussions. students for gun-free schools say that students and teachers must be able to express themselves freely in classroom environments.
- Argues that legalizing concealed gun carry in college campuses will make the job for the campus police hard by making them not know who the real target is during a shooting
- Concludes that college campuses have been doing very well without guns so why would you want to legalize them on campus?
1055 wordsRead More - Should Guns Be Banned At Universities?argumentative essayShould Guns Be Banned at Universities? In recent years, news reports and social media often feature stories in which universities have been attacked and students could not defend themselves. There has been an ongoing debate between students and universities whether they should be allowed to carry a gun to universities or not. The controversy over banning of guns at universities is best understood as a disagreement whether guns make a situation worst when a student is allowed to carry one.
In this essay, the author
- Analyzes the debate between students and universities over whether they should be allowed to carry a gun to universities.
- Explains that students, professors, parents, and anyone concerned about the outcome of this controversy are directly invested in this debate.
- Explains that several interested groups are discussing the main question, should guns be allowed in universities?
- Explains that pro-gun control advocates believe that guns should be allowed in universities because they want everyone to feel safe knowing that if they carry a gun they will be able to defend themselves against criminals.
- Compares manny fernandez and dave montgomery's views on gun control with those of john lott.
- Compares the arguments of john lott, fernandez, manny, and dave montgomery in support of their claims that universities are becoming less safe for students.
- Compares the views of john lott and dave montgomery, who believe students will be safer if they have a gun.
- Explains that there is much debate over if universities should ban guns or not. some argue that guns are a great weapon to defend yourself against criminals, while others believe it places students safety at risk.
1177 wordsRead More - Guns On School Campus Essayopinion essayDue to the recent disruption of violent crimes on campus, many citizens that are pro-gun activist have suggested that both the students and teachers should be allowed to carry concealed weapons on school campuses. Those who are with guns allowed on school campuses claim that their rights have been violated for the reason that many college campuses refuse to allow weapons of any kind on their property. The Constitution of The United States of America already grants citizens the right to carry guns with them. It is not appropriate for guns to be in a vulnerable area such as a college campus or any University. There are already too many guns available to the public or easy to get any kind of gun, and allowing them on
In this essay, the author
- Argues that students and teachers should be allowed to carry concealed weapons on school campuses due to the recent disruption of violent crimes on campus.
- Explains that it is terrifying to obtain a gun permit in many states, as it's easier to get one once the permit has been issued.
- Opines that it should be mandatory psychological evaluation for registered and potential gun owners because colleges have become quite disposed to violence involving guns related incidences.
- Agrees with mr. cuellar that guns can reduce the number of people killed on shootings. it can also be protection for oneself when encountering a problematic situation.
- Argues that stricter firearm control should be prompted for those who choose to carry a concealed weapon, and increased educational requirements for gun owners and firearm safety.
- Opines that the right to own a gun should be looked at and who owns it. the certification process should include psychological and emotional testing, and strict gun training courses.
1546 wordsRead More - Argumentative Essay On Concealed Weaponsanalytical essaySome people own a gun for their own safety. Yet, one of the things they can rely on for protection and defense may jeopardize many lives around them. A college campus is very populated which may increase the likelihood of a gun theft, and could fall into the wrong hands. Campuses provide security who are always ready and prepared for any danger, meaning it is avoidable for anyone other than them to carry weapons. Concealed carry is not appropriate on college campuses because nor is it only unnecessary, but may also result in a situation that can quickly escalate, creating a greater chance of causing more harm than not carrying a concealed weapon.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that a college campus is very populated, which may increase the likelihood of gun theft, and could fall into the wrong hands. concealed carry is not appropriate on college campuses because nor is it only unnecessary.
- Analyzes how david skorton and glenn altschuler's article mention that homicide is the second leading cause of death for college-age individuals.
- Analyzes how the students for gun-free schools wrote several good points on opposing carry concealed guns on college campuses in "why our campuses are safer without concealed handguns."
- Analyzes how the students for concealed carry argued against the topic that students feel uncomfortable in college with their peers carrying a gun.
- Quotes timothy wheeler's "there’s a reason they choose schools" to explain that health-experts tend to focus on the guns and not the people who misuse them.
- Explains that concealed guns give one a false sense of security, while in reality they increase the risk of harm. people like sheldon greenberg believe that guns are there to protect people, but they seem to avoid discussing risky actions.
885 wordsRead More - Pros And Cons Of Concealed Handgunsopinion essaySeung-Hui Cho, a twenty three year old performed the deadliest mass shooting on the Virginia Tech campus and State University campus in Blacksburg, Virginia, and then he took his own life. He killed 32 people. The point of students not having a concealed firearm on campus is to protect other students and faculty. Being safe and not in danger can be solved in many ways. Police officers, family, and people with high authorities are around to protect people but not all the time. Students should be prohibited from carrying concealed firearms on college campuses because it causes violence, it could be in the hands of a crazy person, and concealed carry permit holders are not required to have law enforcement training.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that students should be prohibited from carrying concealed firearms on college campuses because it causes violence, could be in the hands of a crazy person, and concealed carry permit holders are not required to have law enforcement training.
- Explains that students should not be allowed to carry guns on campus because guns boost the chances of crime and violence.
- Explains why students aren't able to carry guns on campus is because it could be in the hands of a mentally unstable person.
- Argues that people should not be able to carry guns on campus because concealed carry permits aren't required to have a law enforcement training — they miss their targets under 50% of the time.
- Opines that prohibiting people from carrying concealed firearms on college campuses is a good way to stay because otherwise it causes violence, it could be in the hands of crazy people, and concealed carry permit holders are not required to have law enforcement training.
703 wordsRead More - Students Deserve the Right to Protect Themselvesopinion essayThe Second Amendment guarantees that an individual’s right to possess and bear arms will not be infringed upon, yet college campuses have denied their students’ right to carry a weapon for years. As of 2014, 22 states do not allow students to carry guns on campus and 22 leave the policy of guns on campus to the schools. The remaining 6 allow students to carry weapons, but not necessarily into school buildings. Only in Utah is a student’s right to concealed carry protected by state law. While the government, state or federal, may not be able to control a private institutions right to ban guns, on public school grounds, students should be allowed to legally carry weapons, as they are on almost any other public grounds. Not only is the right protected by the Second Amendment, allowing concealed carry on campuses would contribute to lower crime rates, rather than lead to more crime.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that the second amendment guarantees that an individual's right to possess and bear arms will not be infringed upon, yet college campuses have denied their students' rights to carry a weapon.
- Explains that the debate on college campuses' gun policies mirrors that of the national level in that at the heart of both debates is the interpretation of the second amendment.
- Argues that most students aren't mature enough or mentally developed enough to carry a weapon on campus. they also argue that 21-year-olds are still trusted by our government to drive at 16, join the army, get married, take out loans, and buy tobacco at 18.
- Opines that instead of prohibiting guns from college campuses, more emphasis should be placed on identifying individuals with violent tendencies who might pose a threat.
- Opines that gun-free zones are not necessarily safe zones, since they have higher crime rates than those where carrying a concealed weapon is prohibited.
- Opines that allowing licensed individuals to carry guns on campuses is safer than gun free zones. they argue that banning guns as a knee-jerk reaction is not the right answer.
- Argues that allowing guns on college campuses would have negative impacts on the open learning atmosphere of colleges.
- Cites burnett, david, watkins, dickerson, pirrong, and liebowitz. "guns make colleges safer."
1313 wordsRead More - The Right to Bear Arms and College Campusesopinion essayGun control on campuses all across the United States of America has been a controversial and popular debate topic for me ever since I woke up one morning on April 20, 1999 and witnessed, what at that time was the deadliest campus shooting in our history, at that time. Obviously I am talking about the shooting that occurred at Columbine High School in Columbine, Colorado where Dylan Klebold and Eric Harris attacked their school and opened fire on helpless students, brutally murdering 12 students, a teacher, and then killing themselves. I may have been young at the time of the shooting, but it definitely was my first interaction with deadly violence in a campus setting and opened my eyes to the harsh reality of how crazy our world can be at times. I am one that believes the strict gun control laws are tearing away at our constitutional right to bear arms. After all, no one can protect us, quite like ourselves. When it comes down to it I would rather have my own fate decided by myself than have to rely on law enforcement to get there in time.
In this essay, the author
- Opines that gun control on campuses has been a controversial and popular debate topic for them since they witnessed the deadliest campus shooting in our history.
- Explains that the united states constitution and the 2nd amendment, the right to bear arms, are at the heart of the politically charged debate on whether or not we should allow students and teachers to have guns on campus.
- Opines that the virginia tech shooting brought a mass political shift toward the issue of handguns on campus shortly after the shooting.
- Opines that the united states of america does not have a unified national policy on guns on campuses and schools.
- Opines that the government needs to reevaluate and take a deep hard look at the issue of allowing firearms on campus.
- Proposes a federal ban on guns across all campuses, except for teachers, professors, and campus security officers who are above the age of 21 and have their concealed handgun license.
- Opines that allowing students to carry firearms on campus would take a safe environment and turn it into an edgy and potentially very unsafe environment.
- Opines that the government should pass legislation that allows all professors and teachers to carry a firearm on campuses.
- Cites baum, k., and klaus, p. u.s. department of justice.
1719 wordsRead More - Campus Carry On Campusexplanatory essayHouston Community College’s governing board approved the campus carry policy fleshing out the details of where weapons are allowed on campus.
In this essay, the author
- Explains that texas senate bill 11 allows handgun license holders to carry a concealed or hidden gun in particular areas on college campuses. the campus carry law went into effect for texas public four-year institutions on aug. 1, 2016.
- Explains that hcc's policy passed at the feb. 23 board meeting with the votes of seven trustees, adriana tamez abstained and zeph capo was not present for the vote.
- Explains that only one private school in texas allowed guns on campus. amberton university restricts enrollment to students 21 and older.
- Explains that campus carry will only allow for concealed carry by handgun license holders on campus.
- Explains that a person is eligible to apply to the state for handgun license if they are over the age of 21; haven't been convicted of felony; and are fully qualified under federal and state law.
- Explains that until aug. 1, no firearms are allowed at hcc. if you see anyone carrying a firearm on campus, call the police department at 713-718-8888.
- Explains the controversy around hcc's campus carry policy centered around dual-credit students and the trustees themselves. high school or collegiate sporting events are weapon-free zones.
- Explains that many high school students are taking college classes at hcc by enrolling in regular courses on campus with other college students. the best campus carry for these students is mandate that all dual credit student and their parents receive a copy of the school’s new weapon policy.
- Explains that hcc's governing board approved a gun policy that affects everyone except them, but this exception for comes directly from texas penal code.
- Opines that trustee zeph capo believes this policy creates and maintains a different class of individuals.
- Explains that additional weapon-free zones must be requested through the college security committee and must adhere to established criteria.
- States that united student council president josue rodriguez noted that it is imperative to keep students' interests as we finalize the hcc campus carry policy.
- Opines that while they are unhappy with the texas campus carry bill, the college has no choice but to follow the law.
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