Today in English class my teacher brought in an article that discussed whether students in college should be allowed to bring their concealed weapons to school. Then we had a mini-debate about it.
I was pro-gun-on-campus. Most of the kids were not, there were maybe about 5 others that were pro.

The main con argument was "that will just make it MORE dangerous!" or "then any crazy person could bring a gun to school and kill people!"
You can see some of the flaws in those arguments, I hope. But that doesn't mean that there aren't flaws in any of the pro arguments. It's like a catch 22.

But I want to know what you guys think!

-should students(age for concealed is 21, so only 21+) be allowed to carry concealed weapons on campus

-would it make it more dangerous, or more safe

-would you want to have a weapon on you in a situation like Virgina Tech?

-any other points you want to make

(if you use the above questions, please don't copy + paste them. if you must have them in your post, quote them)

EDIT::
check out these sites for more info
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/18355953/
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-.../posts?page=20
Possession Restrictions(FL)

also, see The Second Amendment
Gun Control Facts

Important Point, please read :]

Myth No. 4: If law-abiding citizens are allowed to carry concealed handguns, people will end up shooting each other after traffic accidents as well as accidentally shooting police officers
Millions of people currently hold concealed handgun permits, and some states have issued them for as long as 60 years. Yet, only one permit holder has ever been arrested for using a concealed handgun after a traffic accident and that case was ruled as self-defense

(from Gun Control Facts)

I don't think that should be a possibility.
Think of the typical college student.
Although they have their priorities much
straighter than a high school student normally
does, 18 - 26 or so are known as a reckless
group because of all the drinking parties...
which could lead to a lot of violence.

I'm against students bringing weapons to school. If you had a weapon right there, than people who have anger problems might shoot someone rather than just punching them. But if it's not right there and takes some time to get to, it's not going to do much good in a situation where guns are necessary.

My boyfriend agrees with your side though. He thinks that if someone came in and started shooting, he'd want to be able to shoot back.

We have on campus security at my college and from what I've seen, they are pretty good at their jobs.

@Intoxicate- True, but that is a stereotype. You could also say that college students are smart since they got into that college, and that they have common sense.

There are many people who carry concealed weapons and drink and party. And they aren't college students.

@Juniper- That was another popular point in class, but people who have guns now that aren't in college could act the same way, does that mean that they shouldn't have them?
But if there is security that is armed, I'd feel safer on a campus. Although who is to say that one of them couldn't go crazy and use their weapon?

I am anti-gun, I believe they belong in the hands of the police and military. Civilians should not be allowed to carry guns.
But I'm English, so I can almost guarantee that my views on guns will be different to 99% of the Menewshan population. :/

@Jelachu.

What I find funny is how so many people assume
that I mean everyone in a certain group that I
mention.
Just because a college student is smart does not
mean that they are always responsible. Humans
are prone to mistakes.
Yes, there are those who carry concealed weapons
and drink and party and are not college students.
But again, there are those who do.
I think some people would be able to handle the
responsibility, but just not enough.

... thats the dumbest idea...EVER!!!
WHOS IDEA WAS THAT?!

Well, it all depends on what safeguards there are to have the guns there. If a person has to go through a mental health evaluation, backround checks, and other things before they can get their concealed carry pass, and there's metal detectors and trained personal around the entrances making sure that only people with passes have guns, then I don't see the problem. It's the same as the rest of the state, and a lot of states do have concealed carry laws now.

And just because someone's in that age group doesn't mean they're liable to fly off the handle. I'm 21, with very ready access to guns, yet here I sit without ever having taken them to anyone.

It should be done in a case by case basis, for sure. I, personally, would feel more safe carrying a tazer and other non-lethal protection devices. But some people, who have more faith in their marksman abilities would undoubtedly feel safer with a handgun.

@Intoxicate- Yeah I understand what you are saying. In every group of people, there will always be that range. Some could handle it and others couldn't.
But do you think that those who couldn't would go through the process of getting a concealed weapons permit and learn how to use/when to use their weapon, and all of the other things that are included in that process?

oh my god, no way! that's just very dangerous. :roll:
I don't think ANYONE would feel safe there if everybody was carrying a gun!

I'm torn on this issue.
On one hand, if a gunman burst through the doors, and the guy sitting next to me had a gun and shot him before he hurt many people, that would be great.
But on the other hand, I could feel a little on-edge knowing the guy sitting next to me has a gun.

Though as my boyfriend pointed out when we were having a discussion about this, gunmen generally don't seek to conceal their weapon. They just run in and shoot.

I think it should be allowed. But I'm a little leery about it.

I agree with Intoxicate, even if most of them are responsible, all it takes it one idiot...

Originally Posted by jelachu

@Juniper- That was another popular point in class, but people who have guns now that aren't in college could act the same way, does that mean that they shouldn't have them?
But if there is security that is armed, I'd feel safer on a campus. Although who is to say that one of them couldn't go crazy and use their weapon?

Well, I guess my point of view is a little different for gun control. I think that people should be allowed to own guns, but not to carry them around where they are easily accessable(sp?). The reason I think guns should be allowed to be owned in the first place is if the government becomes corrupt and we need to protect ourselves. Things like that don't happen over night though. And once people start noticing that the government is corrupt, that's a good reason to start breaking the law saying you can't carry a loaded gun.

@Jeanemon- Yes! I agree with what you say. :] You can't just say okay you guys can have guns! And then leave it at that, there would have to be proper precautions and processes.

@Cherry Flavored Antacid- Yes, there would be a bit of "omg what if the person to my left has a gun!" But as you said, people who shoot up schools don't usually carry concealed. The people who want to be protected do. I would much rather have a gun, than be defenseless in that situation.

In my opinion, it really depends.

Mental health is a HUGE factor here. If someone is perfectly mentally healthy, has taken numerous tests and exams to prove it, and has no history of any violence/crime in the past, then I don't think there would be any problem with it.

I say, that if people were allowed to carry concealed handguns in College, then they should have to take a few sanity/mental health examinations, and get a license for it. Also, if there's any criminal record of theft, battery, assault, ect.. They should be extra careful and get a certain kind of license with different entitlements, or not be able to get the license at all.

Originally Posted by Sagitar

oh my god, no way! that's just very dangerous. :roll:
I don't think ANYONE would feel safe there if everybody was carrying a gun!

Not everybody would be carrying guns. Only the people with concealed weapons permits, who wanted to carry a weapon on them.

Guns in the hands of anyone are more likely to cause accidental deaths than stop intruders or killers like the Virginia Tech situation.

It's not about defense, it's about creating more of a liability and more of a chance for something to go wrong.

More guns produce more violence. Less guns limits the amount of possible violence, accidental or not. Once in a while there are crazy people who will find a way to kill people, but that is the exception. You have more of a chance of getting into a car accident than to be shot by a madman.

I think it should be allowed, though under very strict control. For instance, if you're currently on medication for any mental illness and/or have been within that past year - 18 months, then you would be blacklisted, and if you have a history of mental illness before that, you would be evaluated on a case-by-case basis. If you have a history of acting up with the school that WASN'T covered by those evaluating you for your concealed weapons permit? Blacklist.

If someone else had a gun during something like the Virginia Tech incident, someone would probably have been able to take down the shooter LONG before he killed himself. Especially if I lived in a particularly bad area, I wouldn't exactly feel vulnerable having a gun on me, provided I knew how to use it...and I'd kinda have to know how to use it in order to get a permit to have it, now wouldn't I?

Really, I'm not pro or anti; I'm not going to push for it to be allowed or anything...but I'm not gonna throw a panicked fit if it were allowed, providing that there were reasonable restrictions on it. I'd take advantage of it, myself.

I've had this discussion a lot lately, it seems. I think that we all have a right to defend ourselves and that weapons such as knives or non-firearms should be allowed on campus. Guns, however... that opens it up for a lot of stupidity.

A lot of people who own guns don't know how to use them properly, which is where a lot of accidents come from. I think that if you should be allowed to have firearms on campus, then a class should be available on how to properly hand and care for a gun for those who have them.

WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU?! GUNS SHOULD NEVER BE ALLOWED THEY SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN INVENTED!!! WHO EVER USES GUNS SHOULD JUST GO PUSH IT UP THERE ASS

O.o

did i say that? O.o
sorry thats how i get when people ask me about those things

You seem very stern in your opinion. Is there any particular reason for such an outburst?

@Fullmetal Phantom- Yeah. I agree! I'm not pro-gun, but if it were allowed, I'd rather have one than not.

Originally Posted by Hyena

You seem very stern in your opinion. Is there any particular reason for such an outburst?

its just my best friend in th whole world was shot :[
go here to learn about my bursts of anger :/
http://www.menewsha.com/viewtopic.php?p=2701647#2701647
this forum says what happened

Understandable. Guns are dangerous and should be handled with care. Accidents are bound to happen with a tool as powerful as a gun.

However, were they not invented, I do not believe that technology would have progressed the same as it has. As a hunting family, we use guns frequently. However, we have been taught how to use them properly, when to use them, when not to use them, and the consequences of our use of them. Education is the answer, not eradication.

As I have said before, many people who use guns for other than hunting are not using them correctly. Or they don't know the consequences of their actions as a whole.

Hopefully, by the time you get to college, you will be the sort of person that understands that actions have reactions. I know that this is not always true, but I believe that a class on proper use of firearms is one way to ease the problems that might stem from allowing them on campus.

Allowing firearms is dangerous. But I can't even carry a knife with me while I'm on campus. I'm not very strong. Our campus is dangerous at night. Yet, if I get mugged and pull a knife on my assailant, the consequences are on me for having an illegal blade.

Where do we draw the line?

Originally Posted by Hyena

Understandable. Guns are dangerous and should be handled with care. Accidents are bound to happen with a tool as powerful as a gun.

However, were they not invented, I do not believe that technology would have progressed the same as it has. As a hunting family, we use guns frequently. However, we have been taught how to use them properly, when to use them, when not to use them, and the consequences of our use of them. Education is the answer, not eradication.

As I have said before, many people who use guns for other than hunting are not using them correctly. Or they don't know the consequences of their actions as a whole.

Hopefully, by the time you get to college, you will be the sort of person that understands that actions have reactions. I know that this is not always true, but I believe that a class on proper use of firearms is one way to ease the problems that might stem from allowing them on campus.

Allowing firearms is dangerous. But I can't even carry a knife with me while I'm on campus. I'm not very strong. Our campus is dangerous at night. Yet, if I get mugged and pull a knife on my assailant, the consequences are on me for having an illegal blade.

Where do we draw the line?

yeah but my friend was being stalked
i hate whoever did this D:<

i will find him it could be her ex-boyfriend they broke up awhile ago
if weapons werent even invented then wars, fights, ect would never exist
and also i had a crush on her T_T