Concealed Carry on College Campuses

The debate concerning the laws of concealed carry on college campuses has been going strong since the Virginia Tech tragedy on April 16, 2007. Concealed carry should be allowed on college campuses. On one side, people oppose the right of concealed carry on campus stating reasons such as this one presented by Concealed Campus, â€Å"It’s unlikely that allowing concealed carry on college campuses could help prevent a Virginia Tech-style massacre because most college students are too young to obtain a concealed handgun license,† (Common). That statement is incorrect and quite misleading. Nineteen of the thirty-two victims of the Virginia Tech tragedy were of or over the age of twenty-one† which is the minimum age to receive a concealed weapons permit in most states (Common). Another common argument against concealed carry on campuses is, â€Å"Life on college campuses often involves some drug use and alcohol consumption that could impair the judgment of a law-abidin g gun owner,† posted by The Warrior (Umpir). However, each state that gives concealed weapons permits has laws prohibiting license holders from carrying while under the influence of drugs or alcohol.Anyone who knows anything about guns would know this. Allowing concealed carry on college campuses should not only be allowed, but encouraged. Between 2001 and 2003 there were 10,472 cases of aggravated assaults on campuses across the US as presented by the U. S. Department of Education (Criminal). These large numbers could very well be prevented in the future if concealed carry is allowed on college campuses. Part of American citizens’ civil rights, as guaranteed by the US Constitution in the second amendment, is to keep and bear arms.The second amendment stating â€Å"As passed by the Congress: A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. † This has been a long stand ing principle and all states have laws for concealed weapons, some stricter than others, but all in some way may advocate for it. The National Conference of State Legislatures posted in August 2012, â€Å"Recent court cases have also overturned some †¦ system wide bans of concealed carry on state college and university campuses.In March 2012, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that the University of Colorado’s policy banning guns from campus violates the state’s concealed carry law, and in 2011 the Oregon Court of Appeals overturned the Oregon University System’s ban of guns on campuses †¦ it was ruled that state law dictates only the legislature can regulate the use, sale and possession of firearms†¦,† (Guns). This supports the arguments for concealed carry on campus by showing the Supreme Court’s support for long standing laws. Concealed carry on campus would do well for the common good. In having a concealed weapon, others may becom e uneasy.However, if the lisecense holder is responsible and caring, they could actually make others feel at ease knowing that a responsible US citizen could protect them in an emergency. To advocate for my position, I have joined the group â€Å"Students for Concealed Carry† at www. Concealedcampus. com. The group has given me the information to write to my state elected officials to encourage concealed weapons on college campuses, which I have done. Works Cited â€Å"Common Arguments Agaisnt Campus Carry. † Concealed Campus. Students for Concealed Carry, 2011. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. . â€Å"Criminal Offensess – Aggravated Assault. † Ed. gov. N. p. , n. d. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. . â€Å"Guns on Campus. † NCSL. National Conference of State Legislatures, Aug. 2012. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. . Umpir, Evan. â€Å"Against Concealed Carry on Campus. † The Warrior. N. p. , 03 Nov. 2011. Web. 16 Oct. 2012. .