Spring Break
Student gun holster protest misses mark on campus
Issue date: 10/23/07 Section: Editorials
Students from more than 100 universities around the country and 14 students here at Miami University are participating in an empty gun holster protest to make a statement against laws preventing gun owners who have a concealed weapon permit from carrying a firearm on a college campus.
Miami University sent out an announcement via e-mail alerting students about the gun holster protest so as to prevent panic and alarm because of students carrying gun holsters in Miami's classrooms.
The Miami Student editorial board commends these students for being politically active and exercising their constitutional rights to protest against a law they feel is unjust.
As refreshing as this activism is, however, this editorial board disagrees with the idea of allowing college students to carry concealed weapons around campus-even if they have legal permits to do so elsewhere.
While it is likely true that the vast majority of gun crimes committed in this country are not done by those who go through the training and legal process to obtain a concealed weapon permit, a college campus is fundamentally a learning environment. The Ohio law forbids people from carrying concealed weapons for good reason-such weapons could instantly incite panic and fear among students.
It is inevitable and understandable that students would be alarmed by the presence of firearms in the classroom. Legal tradition concerning firearms has empirically prevented the carrying of guns by citizens into schools, bars, etc.
These limits represent prudent judgment on the part of our government to sensibly limit Second Amendment rights to alleviate fear and secure the public's safety.
Furthermore, a university setting is entirely different from the standard street corner. While Miami is publicly funded, classrooms and dormitories are not public places-swipe cards are needed to gain access to these buildings.
Miami is able to make its own policies concerning behavior such as smoking-clearly they should be able to limit the possession of firearms as well.
With this particular protest, the reasoning of these gun holster activists is rather troubling. They claim the presence of concealed firearms on campus could thwart another campus shooting-such as the tragedy that befell Virginia Tech.
This argument is inappropriate to use as a justification for their viewpoint. It is highly unlikely that such a scenario would unfold and that concealed weapon holders would be able to take down a shooter without hurting innocent bystanders or causing further confusion, while law enforcement officials attempt to intervene in a chaotic situation.
Miami's response to the protest was appropriate and prudent. The e-mail sent out informed the student body about an event that could have incited alarm-alarm that best illustrates why students should not be allowed to carry concealed weapons on campus.
Miami University sent out an announcement via e-mail alerting students about the gun holster protest so as to prevent panic and alarm because of students carrying gun holsters in Miami's classrooms.
The Miami Student editorial board commends these students for being politically active and exercising their constitutional rights to protest against a law they feel is unjust.
As refreshing as this activism is, however, this editorial board disagrees with the idea of allowing college students to carry concealed weapons around campus-even if they have legal permits to do so elsewhere.
While it is likely true that the vast majority of gun crimes committed in this country are not done by those who go through the training and legal process to obtain a concealed weapon permit, a college campus is fundamentally a learning environment. The Ohio law forbids people from carrying concealed weapons for good reason-such weapons could instantly incite panic and fear among students.
It is inevitable and understandable that students would be alarmed by the presence of firearms in the classroom. Legal tradition concerning firearms has empirically prevented the carrying of guns by citizens into schools, bars, etc.
These limits represent prudent judgment on the part of our government to sensibly limit Second Amendment rights to alleviate fear and secure the public's safety.
Furthermore, a university setting is entirely different from the standard street corner. While Miami is publicly funded, classrooms and dormitories are not public places-swipe cards are needed to gain access to these buildings.
Miami is able to make its own policies concerning behavior such as smoking-clearly they should be able to limit the possession of firearms as well.
With this particular protest, the reasoning of these gun holster activists is rather troubling. They claim the presence of concealed firearms on campus could thwart another campus shooting-such as the tragedy that befell Virginia Tech.
This argument is inappropriate to use as a justification for their viewpoint. It is highly unlikely that such a scenario would unfold and that concealed weapon holders would be able to take down a shooter without hurting innocent bystanders or causing further confusion, while law enforcement officials attempt to intervene in a chaotic situation.
Miami's response to the protest was appropriate and prudent. The e-mail sent out informed the student body about an event that could have incited alarm-alarm that best illustrates why students should not be allowed to carry concealed weapons on campus.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 20
Nathaniel McNary
posted 10/23/07 @ 10:22 AM EST
This editorial is both presumptuous and inconsistent. Concealed carry means that firearms are not brought out in public to be gawked at and played with, but carried discretely. (Continued…)
Amie Stanley
posted 10/23/07 @ 1:05 PM EST
I feel like this editorial fails to address adequately the logic behind allowing students to carry a weapon on campus, chalking up Miami University's policy as its inherent right to create policy for its private property. (Continued…)
Chad Landry
posted 10/23/07 @ 1:20 PM EST
First of all, there are states where carrying concealed weapons on campus has been legal for a long time, and none of your imagined problems have occurred. (Continued…)
Michael Flitcraft
posted 10/23/07 @ 2:05 PM EST
I think the editors at The Miami Student need to do a bit more research about concealed handgun license holders before they jump to any conclusions. For starters, nearly all of the people that would be allowed to carry will be upper-classmen, faculty, and staff. (Continued…)
Michael Flitcraft
posted 10/23/07 @ 8:12 PM EST
Those who would give up Essential Liberty to purchase a little Temporary Safety, deserve neither Liberty nor Safety.
R Dub
posted 10/23/07 @ 10:55 PM EST
"These limits represent prudent judgment on the part of our government to sensibly limit Second Amendment rights to alleviate fear and secure the public's safety. (Continued…)
Tom Schaber
posted 10/24/07 @ 10:06 AM EST
What a great idea - NOT. Students bringing guns into the classroom. WHY? What purpose is served? What possible good can come from this?
Please don't say "prevent another Virgina Tech". (Continued…)
Stephen F
posted 10/24/07 @ 11:00 AM EST
Tom: What purpose? How about so my friends don't get raped (it's happened!), so my friends or I don't get stabbed (it's happened!)? It's called "safety". (Continued…)
Stephen J. Feltoon
posted 10/24/07 @ 11:05 AM EST
I feel that it is you, the editorial board, that has missed the point. The key word in "concealed carry" is "CONCEALED". Students will not know which students, faculty, and staff members are licensed and who exercises their right to carry. (Continued…)
Scott Skawronska
posted 10/25/07 @ 2:20 AM EST
Tom Schaber said:
"Can you imagine the chaos that would have ensued with another 10-15 vigilantes trying to track down the real shooter.
With any luck they would all shoot each other and then we wouldn't have any more guns on the campus - which is as it should be. (Continued…)
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