Rhetorical Analysis : College Campuses

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Rhetorical Analysis
College campuses have an increased rate of reported crimes in recent years. How can this be reduced? What can be done to improve this situation? Security can only cover parts of the campus at a time. Spontaneous outbreaks of crime can be thwarted if students actively participate in stopping crimes. Allowing students who have obtained a Concealed Handgun License, CHL, to carry a gun on campus will make campuses safer and reduce the amount of school shootings and other forms of crimes common to college campuses. In order to obtain a CHL a person has to be “21 year of age or older, clean criminal history, not be under a protective order, not be chemically dependent, not be of unsound mind, not be delinquent in paying fines, fees, child support, etc., and must complete the required training” (TCHA, 2013). A poster about the benefits of carrying a legal concealed weapon solidifies positive reasons to allow students and faculty to defend themselves from mass murderers and other criminal acts.
A poster supporting the Georgia Campus Carry Act of 2013 shows an individual holding a gun on one side that says “Armed Staff and Students”, the other side says “No Legal Guns Allowed”, and the bottom says “Which campus would a mass murderer pick?” The purpose of the poster is to persuade lawmakers and the public to see from the criminal’s vantage point that a campus which is a gun-free or less protected will be an easier target to commit a crime. It is an eye catching, thought provoking poster, with a clear message. “The intent is that faculty, employees, students, and visitors who qualify for a Georgia weapons carry license could exercise their right to self-defense in Georgia 's colleges and universities” (Stone, 2013). The...

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...hool. That staff person has to have demonstrated handgun proficiency and psychological fitness in order to act as the marshal within the school (Strauss, 2014). Was the desired outcome of the poster achieved? It is an ongoing debate. It is important to preserve the individual right to self-protection but just as import is ensuring the security of the campus itself.
Allowing students and faculty who are licensed to conceal and carry a handgun on campus will result in reduced school shootings and make campuses a safer place to be. The debate remains, will the student who carries a concealed weapon provide protection and deter possible criminal activity or could the well-intended individual escalate an explosive situation, causing more harm. Future statics of criminal activities from the campuses that allow students to carry concealed handguns will be the true test.

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