Nothing like celebrating the 2-year anniversary of the mass murders on the Virginia Tech campus by passing a bill that allows students to carry concealed weapons on campus. Yes, the proud representatives in the Missouri state house voted 2-1 to give students 21 and older the right to carry guns to classrooms. We can hope that the state Senate will not support the bill, or that the governor will veto if it is does, but this is Missouri and common sense doesn't always reign in the state government.
Missourians are joined in this nonsense by their colleagues in Texas, who are considering a similar bill. This is especially ironic, for while Texas law specifically prohibits concealed carry on campus, it also includes a clause which allows an individual college/university to 'opt out' of the law and allow concealed carry.
According to a pro-concealed carry website, there are 24 states that expressly prohibit concealed carry on college campuses by persons with a valid concealed handgun license/permit. 15 "Right-to-Carry" states leave the decision of concealed carry on college campuses entirely to each college/university.
There are a good number of groups advocating for concealed carry: the NRA is the largest, of course, though there is also a group called Students for Concealed Carry on Campus... That group is organizing a "third national collegiate Empty Holster Protest during the week of April 20-24, 2009," where students, faculty, and staff can walk around with empty holsters they wish they had filled. It was nice of them to wait a few days for the anniversary of the Virginia Tech murders.
I am happy to note that I have never worked at a school that allowed concealed carry. I don't like the idea of my students carrying guns in the classroom, nor would I ever carry a weapon. I don't think I would ever want to be on a campus that allowed students to carry concealed weapons; I might actually not take a job for that reason. I hope that faculty at schools in Missouri and Texas will lobby their legislators to vote against these bills. They are scary and should not be passed.
7 comments:
This kind of stuff scares the crap out of me. My students get huffy enough about their grades (and we've had a couple of stalking incidences on campus in the last few years.) I wouldn't want to have a "discussion" about grades with a student who might possibly be armed.
Well, in the great state of Utah, the horrible day has already come. It's bad enough trying to recruit candidates to such a strange place, but then add that your student could be packing and the new mandatory criminal background check...
I look forward to the day when my rights are not taken away simply because people are scared of guns.
This is going to pass the senate and will overcome any veto.
Haven't you ever heard of "The Pink Pistols"? They are a homosexual league of gun clubs. They are all over america with the purpose of taking gay people coming together to educate themselves on how to prevent personal harm from people who may persecute them. And Its fun.
It's not the students that would be legally carrying guns that you have to worry about. Having them would be like having undercover security guards in every classroom. Wouldn't that be a comforting thought? No? Why not? Is it that you can't trust anyone to be law-abiding unless they have a badge? The bad people could care less about guns being prohibited so why do you worry if they are allowed? You would truly be safer with trained good students having the means of self (and your) protection with them. Wake up! No law will prevent violence. Only the means, given to the proper people, will.
anti gun?, watch this video.
pro gun?, you need to watch too.
you cant argue with fact.
http://www.jpfo.org/filegen-a-m/movieplay-ngn-swf.htm
You might want to check RSMO 571.107 division 1 subdivision (10), and the entirety of division 2. It is in no way a criminal act for a concealed carry permit holder to carry his or her weapon onto the grounds of a University in the state of Missouri. Though it may violate school policy, it is not a criminal act in Missouri.
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