Concealed Carry on Campus?

Monday, April 16, 2007 on the campus of Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, Virginia, Seung-Hui Cho, killed 32 people and wounded many others before committing suicide.  September 29, 2010 on the campus of the University of Texas in Austin, Colton Tooley, 19 opened fire on students before eventually killing himself. These stories play out all too often and have sparked a debate on whether to allow or ban concealed carry on college campuses.

Many argue, and rightfully so, that if there had been a student or faculty member that was ‘carrying’ on campus they, perhaps, could have defended themselves and furthermore could have ended the shooter’s rampage and saved many lives. Cho’s attack at Virginia Tech lasted over 30 minutes. Had just one person been armed to protect themselves, countless lives could have been saved. Nothing is as easy as preying upon a defenseless target.

Many people argue that college students are too young to carry a concealed weapon and are not mature enough to handle the responsibility. 19 of the 32 people killed in the Virginia Tech massacre were over the age of 21.

An interesting fact is that in almost all cases the area surrounding the college campus, concealed carry  is allowed. This leaves the college campus as a defenseless, unprotected island just ripe for violent crime. Present argument does not suggest allowing or even encouraging students to carry weapons, it is just suggesting to allow current municipal or county or even state carry laws to cover college campuses as well.

Allow those that are educated, trained and have a desire to carry to be allowed to do so on college campuses. Currently Colorado is one of the few states that allows concealed carry on 15 of it’s college campuses. Could more guns on campus prevent school shootings? Please leave your comments.

Watch the John Stossel interview on his segment “Should Students Pack Heat”