Shooting at Northern Illinois University

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by shinerbock

We not only fail to extend that right to college campuses, we advertise that the people gathered on those campuses are unable to defend themselves.

Correct and that's why university and city officials are required to provide security measures. If they aren't doing a good job, force them to hear your voice and do better. Many colleges and universities made a lot of changes after VTech.

Originally Posted by shinerbock

...they probably don't care about getting in trouble for having a gun on campus in the first place.

Indeed and telling them that they aren't breaking the law by doing so is a facilitating factor that increases criminal opportunities.

ETA: I'm typing about guns on campuses. I have no problem with gun permits as long as people aren't carrying guns where the law forbids (i.e. schools, certain places of employment, etc.--the law forbids it for a reason). I don't want to get into a general "right to bear arms" discussion because I don't see this specific topic as being about the general "right to bear arms."

Originally Posted by shinerbock

I don't think campus carry will solve the world's problems. What it will do is keep law-abiding students from being defenseless against those who have no respect for the law in the first place.

So who is going to train these wannabe defenders of the Universe? Shooting a human is way different than shooting a board at a gun range or a deer.

Answer: No one. Gun toting students will be the same as gun owning home owners...scared and susceptible to having their guns taken from them and used against them. The average gun advocate may say they have a gun to defend themselves but they really don't expect to have to defend themselves. Plus many with gun permits, particularly in the South, are using it for hunting and that's why they are such gun advocates.

Not to mention that having the guns reduces the potential for conflicts to be resolved without gunfire. Are students allowed to shoot as the potential assailant is walking into the area or walking out of the area (with their backs turned)? For instance, we have established laws for homeowner gun use that are still broken. Imagine what would happen when "defending our property/ourselves" includes untrained students defending themselves and college campuses--you will be unable to retain a lot of student, faculty, and staff if that is allowed.

But it won't be allowed so, again, this is all a theoretical debate. People with gun permits will still have to leave their guns at home or in their car, parked the legally mandated miles away from campus.