Texas Senate OKs Concealed Handguns on College Campuses: Smart or Stupid?
SodaHead Living
2011/05/11 15:42:20
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Just what we needed -- a bunch of college kids walking around with concealed handguns.
On Monday, the Texas Senate approved a bill that would allow individuals with concealed handgun licenses to carry weapons in public college buildings and classrooms, Time magazine reports.
Supporters of the bill say carrying guns on campus is a self-defense measure, one that could allow students to retaliate and defend themselves in school shootings like those at Virginia Tech in 2007 and Northern Illinois University in 2008.
But critics, including University of Texas administrators, fear the law could lead to more campus crime and suicides.
If the bill clears the House, Texas Gov. Rick Perry is expected to sign it into law. Would you call this a smart idea, or a very stupid one?
On Monday, the Texas Senate approved a bill that would allow individuals with concealed handgun licenses to carry weapons in public college buildings and classrooms, Time magazine reports.
Supporters of the bill say carrying guns on campus is a self-defense measure, one that could allow students to retaliate and defend themselves in school shootings like those at Virginia Tech in 2007 and Northern Illinois University in 2008.
But critics, including University of Texas administrators, fear the law could lead to more campus crime and suicides.
If the bill clears the House, Texas Gov. Rick Perry is expected to sign it into law. Would you call this a smart idea, or a very stupid one?
Read More: http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/05/10/texas-senate-a...
Top Opinion
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BlueMax372 2011/05/11 16:08:25Smart
+24Typical of SH-sponsored articles, this one starts out stupid, with "...a bunch of college kids walking around with concealed handguns." The "college kids" would have to be at least 21 to obtain the concealed carry permit and to have been vetted and trained according to state statute. Can we say "knee-jerk reaction," everyone?
With the recent spate of college shootings, I see nothing wrong with allowing legal handguns on campus for defense. Most people who are doing something wrong aren't going to give a sh!t about the legality of their having a firearm.
However, college is a very turbulent time for most people. College kids do stupid things and emotions can still run just as high as any adolescent. Factor in booze, homesickness, a roommate you don't like, and some loneliness and you've got a bad situation to be allowing guns in. That being said, kids will find a way to do horrible things with or without guns. My fear is that a gun will take a decision that should not be made lightly solved too quickly without a chance for second thoughts.
Or when the over stressed student pulls his gun only to have the other person pull theirs and end it before becoming a stat.
Would you tell the 32 dead students at virgina tech "Sorry, I never saw the need to have a gun in college, and the world hasn't changed at all in the last 20 years... You're not gonna die"
How about pathetic?
ridiculous?
dangerous?
asinine?
absurd?
unreasonable?
preposterous?
insane?
irrational?
I could go on, but you get the point, right?
I could go on, but you get the point, right?
-Not quite enough sleep
-Bit too much stress (you know ...studies, work, money)
-Prone to alcohol consumption (late night partying)
-Perhaps taking Ritalin (and God knows what else to keep on top of it all)
-Penchant for trying out mind-altering drugs
-Forgetful at times (sure that wouldn't happen with the lock on the gun he/she just threw in the book bag, would it?)
Monday morning ...up late the night before (paper due), poor score on an exam, Betty's given him the boot, professor eyes him funny. Sure, he PROBABLY won't ...right?
Won't find me there ...not as a student and not as an instructor. I'll take my chances in an unarmed classroom. Not much risk of bodily harm in a college classroom NOT filled with guns.
I could go on, but you get the point, right?
New baby, so little sleep.
Trying for a promotion and making time for family, way to much stress
come home every night and have a drink or 4 to "calm down"
Taking every drug his doctors can think of for the insomnia, stress, blood pressure, ect.
Forgetful alot of the time due to lack of sleep, long hours, and high stress.
And now his wife wants a divorce. And his boss is pissed becuase the reports not in. and the drivers on the road are constantly cutting him off.
So the average 35 year old man goes on a shooting rampage with that pistol he has a license for..... happens every day, everywhere.... thats why we have so many mass murders every week....
Oh wait.....
You argument is void of truth or reason.
So you take somebody who is by nature a bit immature and aggressive, put him in a stressful situation, and hand him a gun? ...what sort of logic is that?
People fly off the handle when they're stressed. You don't have to like it, but that's a fact ...human psychology. Sometimes those situations result in shouting matches or fist fights, and occasionally do result in real violence. Have you ever heard the term 'going postal'? It does happen, and this law is the perfect set up for it.
Let's look at this situation:
Tom, stressed and lacking sleep, pulls out his gun and makes threatening moves in class. John becomes alarmed, pulls out HIS gun, and shoots to avoid Tom opening fire. Was Tom actually going to fire? ...you won't ever know. This is just one of numerous scenarios that could occur.
There have been a few shootings on campuses, true. They've received quite a bit of media coverage. However, truth is that a college campus is probably one of the ...
So you take somebody who is by nature a bit immature and aggressive, put him in a stressful situation, and hand him a gun? ...what sort of logic is that?
People fly off the handle when they're stressed. You don't have to like it, but that's a fact ...human psychology. Sometimes those situations result in shouting matches or fist fights, and occasionally do result in real violence. Have you ever heard the term 'going postal'? It does happen, and this law is the perfect set up for it.
Let's look at this situation:
Tom, stressed and lacking sleep, pulls out his gun and makes threatening moves in class. John becomes alarmed, pulls out HIS gun, and shoots to avoid Tom opening fire. Was Tom actually going to fire? ...you won't ever know. This is just one of numerous scenarios that could occur.
There have been a few shootings on campuses, true. They've received quite a bit of media coverage. However, truth is that a college campus is probably one of the safest places a young person can spend time. I'd like it to remain so. This law, when enacted, will change that, and even if it's only slightly, that's too much for my liking.
The bottom line is that this law promotes MORE violence on campus, not less. I truly hope nobody dies before they overturn it. The risk is greater than any protection those guns might ever realistically provide.
Only in areas where no one is supposed to have a gun, do horrible things happen with guns.
But don't let facts dissuade your uninformed opinion.
Face it ...you're a 'gunner'. Yes ...life would be perfect if we all owned a gun.
(Sorry ...had to edit to say that last bit is sarcasm. I'm fairly sure you'd never pick up on that.)
Krinsaw, GA my arse! Next ridiculous, diversionary argument? I'm sure you've got one up your sleeve, right?
Oh, and ...your argument is void of truth and reason (actually all of them). Just thought I should mention it.
Really? I'd like to see proof of that, becuase EVERYONE I have talked to at UT would beg to differ.
So who exactly has the uninformed opinion? The guy from New York or the guy that actually talked to UT administrators?
Might be because I can read. The story attached to the question (don't even have to open the link) says so:
"But critics, including University of Texas administrators, fear the law could lead to more campus crime and suicides."
Yep ...that's how I might know.
In fact, let's look into this a bit deeper. This from Laura Gottesdiener:
"The closer one gets to campus, the stronger the opposition. Hundreds of university administrators have come out against guns-on-campus legislation, including Francisco Cigarroa, chancellor of the University of Texas, one of the largest public university systems in the state.
“It’s notable that NOT A SINGLE university administrator [in Texas] has said, ‘Yes, do allow guns on campus,’” said John Woods, a gun control advocate whose girlfriend was killed in the Virginia Tech shooting."
Look, you can't let your opinion rule when you have no facts to back it up. This is a dangerous law, pure and simple. You haven't provided anything to suggest otherwise. If you want to continue the debate, you might want to try being honest and present some facts that support it, if you can find any. So far, you've provided me the wrong n...
Might be because I can read. The story attached to the question (don't even have to open the link) says so:
"But critics, including University of Texas administrators, fear the law could lead to more campus crime and suicides."
Yep ...that's how I might know.
In fact, let's look into this a bit deeper. This from Laura Gottesdiener:
"The closer one gets to campus, the stronger the opposition. Hundreds of university administrators have come out against guns-on-campus legislation, including Francisco Cigarroa, chancellor of the University of Texas, one of the largest public university systems in the state.
“It’s notable that NOT A SINGLE university administrator [in Texas] has said, ‘Yes, do allow guns on campus,’” said John Woods, a gun control advocate whose girlfriend was killed in the Virginia Tech shooting."
Look, you can't let your opinion rule when you have no facts to back it up. This is a dangerous law, pure and simple. You haven't provided anything to suggest otherwise. If you want to continue the debate, you might want to try being honest and present some facts that support it, if you can find any. So far, you've provided me the wrong name of a Georgia town with an antiquated, unenforced law on the books and an incorrect (I'm being kind) statement about the position of UT administrators. You're really going to have to do better than that if you want to sway my opinion.
1) The fact that young males are immature and aggressive has been established by a number of separate studies. What I pointed to was the rating of automobile insurance companies. Those companies charge exceptionally high premiums rates for males until age 25 because of this. You've not disputed this FACT.
2) Administrators of UT (despite your claim to the contrary) are FULLY against this law, saying they are concerned it will lead to MORE crime and suicides. They ARE the experts on campus environment and the psychology of their (mostly) young students. This is FACT. (The point was a valid one when you claimed it was the other way round, but now it's not?)
You've provided nothing at all to back your opinion. And why is that? ...because it's DEAD WRONG. Somebody will die specifically because of this law if it's enacted. ALL the markers point in that direction. That'll be a very sad day for the family and friends of the victim(s), the university involved, the state of Texas, hopefully you, and certainly me.
I have no interest in discussing this issue further with you. You have an aversion to facts, logic, and honesty.
I'm off.
You have absolutely nothing to say ...no support for your opinion AT ALL, and I've given you ample opportunity.
Let's just say you like guns and leave it at that.
Massachusetts and New York City are two places with some of the tightest gun laws in the US... Wyoming, on the other hand will let you walk into anywhere other than a bar with a gun on your hip....
You want facts that show pro-gun environments reduce crime... There you go.
AND University of Texas administrators DO agree with me on this.
You like guns, and you are not interested in ANY argument under any circumstance which calls them into question. You won't even consider the facts involved in this situation.
There you go.
You claim that those opinions combined with the fact that corporations charge more insurance to people under 25, make you opinions valid.
I claim that my opinions based on real world facts about heavily gun controlled areas compared to loosely controlled areas makes mine valid.
We just made the same arguments, in opposing directions, and you solely reject mine because you don't agree with it.
Again, everything in your argument is based solely on opinion. You DON'T like guns, and you are not interested in ANY argument under any circumstance which allows them.
and has a lot of other college crap on their mind.what they are trying to do is either live up to their name or kill a hell lot of kids
Let's also ban sports, swimming pools, storms, etc.
To put it simply, the gun banners lie. They have an agenda, facts be damned.
PS; These "kids" fight our wars and carry automatic weapons with others lives in their hands. The gun-banners, in their quest for a total ban like all other socialist nations short changes our collage age young people. At age 19 I was on combat missions with my M-60. I killed no babies the way these same people accused us of doing....
Peace!