Letter: Against campus carry
Tuesday, April 29, 2008; 12:00 AM
In light of the previous week being Firearms Awareness Week and reading the multiple articles about passing the concealed carry law, I felt compelled to write in and bring up some issues that most people seem to be overlooking.

The main argument I hear in favor of the concealed carry on campus is that if students were allowed to carry guns on campus, events like those on April 16, 2007 could be prevented or at least lessened if students had concealed weapons to protect themselves.  Personally, I believe that is ridiculous, but even if this was the case, I don't think that is a strong enough argument to let people carry guns into classrooms. Campus shootings such as those on our campus and at Northern Illinois University earlier this year are not everyday occurrences; in fact they are extremely rare. What is actually an everyday occurrence is the death of approximately 80 Americans because of gun violence.

So, would the benefits of allowing students to carry weapons on campus outweigh the risks? No! What may decrease is the number of students killed in large shootings like the one that so greatly affected our campus last spring, but the reverse of this would be the number of single handgun homicides that would inevitably occur if people were able to carry a gun with them into everyday situations. I do not want some 21-year-old student sitting next to me in my math class carrying a gun.

To obtain a gun in Virginia, you must apply and go through a screening process and a background check, unless of course you decide to go to a private dealer at a gun show and simply hand over some money and buy whatever gun that suits your purpose. Some states require you to take a class before you can get a gun, but that's about as effective as putting a 15-year-old through driver's-ed and saying he or she is ready to drive a racecar. The point is that the average college student is not trained to know how and when to use a gun properly in self-defense.

If you let students carry a gun on campus where do you draw the line on when it is appropriately used? If you increase the number of guns on campus, you increase the number of opportunities to use these guns. That isn't a decision that I think should be left up to each individual and untrained student. And if you allow guns on campus, there isn't any way to prevent them from being used, there can only be punishment for using them incorrectly, which is too late to save a life. The answer to guns on campus is not more guns. The only way to prevent events like the one that occurred on our campus last year is to take the guns out of the equation, not adding more to the mix.

One final thought is that on average, if someone gets shot and killed in the United States, four out of five times it's by a handgun. Ban handguns, anybody? This is a huge issue and there are arguments I didn't address, not wanting to turn this letter into an essay, but in the end I think it is a safer and wiser decision to limit the presence of guns on campus and in general, rather than invite more in.

John Forys
senior, mathematics

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Posted by: Alan at 5/09/08 "The only way to prevent events like the one that occurred on our campus last year is to take the guns out of the equation, not adding more to the mix." And how exactly can we do that? Short answer, we can't. Soooo... the only WORKABLE plan is to allow people to LEGALLY carry weapons. Unless of course you're willing to wall off schools and require strip searches at the gate. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Max at 5/07/08 There have been many arguments presented in these comments, some more cogently made than others. May I be permitted to approach the matter from a slightly different direction? While many believe that "Shall Issue" CCW laws reduce crime, and that probably is true, the evidence for that is indicative, but not conclusive. What is clear is that gun-control laws do nothing to reduce murder or suicide. (The latest and most comprehensive study drawing that conclusion may be found at: http://www.law.harvard.edu/students/orgs/jlpp/Vol30_No2_KatesMauseronline.pdf ) By extension, and there are studies supporting the conclusion, one may say that gun-control laws also do not decrease other violent crimes - and probably do not decrease overall crime. Individual liberty is a major part of the foundation of this country. Why should government take actions that consume public resources; produce no public good, and do restrict the liberty of law-abiding citizens? Flag Abuse
Posted by: Kevin at 5/07/08 I'm with Jason T, ban the "concealed campus carry loophole" Flag Abuse
Posted by: Steve at 5/06/08 You can't ban guns from Criminals. History & statistics prove this. How can any ban on guns work against Criminals that have PLENTY of guns that no-one knows about? In this society, Anti-Gun Laws only affect law abiding citizens. We, as Law Abiding Citizens have the right to defend ourselves. Also, CCW Holders are Trained in the proper use and handling of firearms, and when they should be used. In fact, in a Life Threatening Situation when seconds count, the Law is minutes away.Any Police Officer will tell you that You are your best defense as long as you know how to do so. CCW Holders know how to defend themselves. In fact, in most cases not a shot is fired, the presence of a gun being pointed at an assailant is usually enough to scare them away. Take away Law Abiding Citizens guns and we'll have Chaos! Flag Abuse
Posted by: Kevin at 5/06/08 Did you give up the scientific principle to write this diatribe? Senior, mathematics, look at some statistics. DAMN! what a dolt. Flag Abuse
Posted by: John Havranek at 5/06/08 To "On That Note" if you want us to start our own SCCC school should we start our own SCCC state as well? Well we already have one, actually 48 including Virginia. For "Yeah Right" no I have not heard of a mass stabbing but Mass shootings in "Gun Free Zones" happen. Cars were not made to kill, neither were cigarettes or big macs, but more people die from anyone one of those each year then firearms. What is worse, someone who respects that a gun can kill, or someone who has no idea that there 3000lb vehicle can easily run over a human. The idea of concealed carry can't affect the masses that much considering most states have some form of concealed carry and you don't see people rushing to those states that don't have it. Why is that? Flag Abuse
Posted by: Jason T at 5/02/08 To "Yeah Right": I'm not going to perpetuate the "ban cars" argument, or argue that guns are not designed for violent purposes. The overarching point here is the inconsistency in VA law vs. VT policy. So long as the VA law does not criminalize open carry (and concealed carry with a permit) on the VT campus, what we have is a sort of inverted loophole. Students who would legally carry a weapon on campus can not do so for fear that they will be expelled. Meanwhile, non-Hokies can carry with impunity. In my mind, there are two basic stances to take: (1) petition either the VA legislature or the VT BOV to remove the weapons policy and eliminate the academic penalties associated with carrying on campus, or (2) petition the VA legislature to ban everyone from carrying weapons on public college campuses. The problem is that VA law and VT policy don't fit together. No matter which side of the aisle you're on, something has to give. Flag Abuse
Posted by: On that note at 5/02/08 you should probably just go and start your own SCCC school? then you could leave the safe estimate of 95% of us Hokies alone Flag Abuse
Posted by: Yeah Right at 5/02/08 John Havranek, sweet job in pointing out that people carry pocket knives to class. I have a question for you...have you heard of anyone stabbing 32 people to death in a classroom building? Probably not...no...not there, keep looking...cause you won't find it. A concealed carry permit is an outright joke. The course and I'm sorry to say, doesn't teach you much about when and in what situation to use it. Ban cars? I think not considering cars were not made to kill people...guns, what were guns made for? Not killing? All you concealed carry people need to be lying to yourselves to get yourselves to believe that more guns are the answer...and please ask all the students at VT what they think...I'm sure our school would not be the same if allowed, I'm pretty sure more than half the undergrad population would leave Flag Abuse
Posted by: John Havranek at 4/30/08 anything else I can add??? DC banned Handguns and look how good they are doing Australia baned firearms and it parts of the country homicide had tripled You can choose the leader of the world and die for your country at 18, operate a 6000 lb motor vehicle at 16, but you can't be responsible to protect your own life at 21? yea thats a load of bs. Campus did take guns out of the equation and looked what happened Students carry pocket knives on campus, how come we are not stabbing each other? The average college student is not trained to use a gun in self defense, but the CCW permit holder is. You will not know if that 21 year old student in your math class is carry a firearm and he is already carrying one when you go to the movie theater. I don't want some psycho who some how obtained a firearm using it and me having no way to defend myself. 110 people die in car accidents each day, ban cars? ok, I think I made my point Flag Abuse
Posted by: Andy at 4/29/08 See example; Los Angeles. Ground zero for the worst gang problems in the United States, well at least based on current media. A contantsly growing list of restrictions on firearms that make California ownership more expensive for law adibding people. Similar bans on the right to carry in many California counties that don't issue permits. They passed microstamping bill to help track crimes. Bad guys aren't going to the store to buy new guns, they already have plenty of guns and of course new ones without microstamping will be smuggled in. This of course will only make costs higher to good people and further infringe on 2nd amendment. Doesn't seem like bad guys have a problem getting guns in Cali. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Andy.......continued at 4/29/08 Look back to riots in 90s. The parts of the city that weren't destroyed by rioters were being protected by good citizens with guns. Any young person not familiar with what happened would be well advised to look into it. Many innocents hurt (some innocents beaten so badly you wouldn't even want the story recounted to you) and the police abandoned many areas leaving civilians to fend for themselves. Everyone keep these unsuccessful and ridiculous infringements of the 2nd amendment in mind as you contemplate the heading of our still young country. Look at how we let the gangs take over greatly decreasing quality of life for tens of thousands of innocent people. Life there and try to open a business and you will probably be shaken down by gangs for protection money. The will help those people in those neighborhoods trying to get their dreams off the ground. Keep that in mind as these creeps make their way across the country to NY, Chicago, FL, and everywhere else. Think about the message that these criminals need to get in order to put their head straight that good people will not put up with this. Banning guns is the wrong message to send these criminals. Flag Abuse
Posted by: pro2a at 4/29/08 haha i think the poster below me meant to say "great comments" Flag Abuse
Posted by: Anonymous at 4/29/08 Great letter! Thanks. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Rich Carlton at 4/29/08 Mr. Forys, what you must understand is that these 80 shootings per day are not committed by licensed gun owners. Statistics show that roughly 2.5% of people will commit a crime during their lifetime. However, less than 0.2% of licensed gun owners will commit a crime. The reason? Licensed gun owners undergo significant background checks. In many states the process is so restrictive as to eliminate many law abiding citizens. Yes, gun violence is a problem in America. Obama wants to target the guns of licensed, registered owners while 32 people died last week in chicago as the result of shootings by gang-bangers, robbers and rapists. Get the facts on guns and crime from a reliable source, then make your decision. you will then have made an educated decision. http://gunfacts.info/pdfs/gun-facts/4.0/GunFacts4-0-Screen.pdf Flag Abuse
Posted by: libertarian conservative at 4/29/08 *sigh* 1. People are already "allowed to carry ... gun[s] into everyday situation[s]" in Virginia. It's a "shall issue" concealed carry state. 2. I have never seen a "private dealer" at a gun show. I have seen "private individuals" selling firearms. I have seen "licensed dealers" selling firearms. But I have never seen these mythical "private dealers." If they exist, they are almost certainly already in violation of multiple state and local laws. There is no "gun show loophole" that needs to be closed. 3. You aren't going to "take guns out of the equation." That would require a Constitutional amendment that has no chance of passing in this country. As a result, even if you convince a local or state government to pass unconstitutional laws infringing on the right to keep and bear arms, criminals will still get their firearms, usually by stealing them. 4. People are so afraid of guns that they lose sight of the real problem, which is "violence." If you removed guns from the equation, most of those victims of "gun violence" would instead have become victims of "knife violence." Here's a fact to ponder: an average male with a knife can cover 18-21 feet in the time it takes to draw and fire a gun. Knives, if anything, can be far more devastating than guns. Just ask the people of the United Kingdom, where firearms are effectively banned. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Kevin Tipton at 4/29/08 Fact: Gun free zones are a "perfect" working environment for criminals. They know this, and yet they seem to understand this more than you do. Criminals aren't looking for a challenge, just the quick and easy hit. If there are more "gun free zone" murders the blood is on the hands of people like you. So, you feel uncomfortable if a well trained 21 year old law abiding student has a gun next you in class? Well, are you comfortable of an 18 year old operating an M1 Abrams Tank? Your argument is not based in any way on logic, common sense or facts. And you want to take guns away from decent people. Well, the criminals get illegal guns all the time. It's happening at an alarming rate in England and Australia, who have banned all hand guns and many others as well. This is an argument you're going to lose, and I think you see the writing on the wall. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Ken S. at 4/29/08 PS - John, it's called Firearms EDUCATION Week, not awareness. The activities of the week were meant to share the side of firearms that you never hear - the responsible side. Somehow, the media just doesn't seem to get as excited about someone defending their lives with a firearm as some mentally-ill person abusing one and attacking innocent people. So, we are working hard to tell the side of the story that never gets told. In fact, why don't you see what you know about the topic and give your opinion in our survey & quiz https://survey.vt.edu/survey/entry.jsp?id=1208998040655 Flag Abuse
Posted by: Will Blanchetti at 4/29/08 "If you let students carry a gun on campus where do you draw the line on when it is appropriately used?" Maybe I am not a smart person but I would say that the line is drawn when your safety is in danger. Perhaps if you were a woman in the cage and a man with an erection ran out of the bushes at you, I would say that the line of appropriateness has been crossed. Maybe if an insane madman stormed your classroom with guns. From as early as I can remember I have known the "line" you speak of. As for not trusting a 21 year old college student with a handgun, grow a pair. You trust them to drive transit buses, you trust them to fight wars, you trust them to have children, you trust them to be police officers. I would be willing to bet that I have discharged more rounds from more guns than the majority of the BPD and VTPD. Practice makes perfect. I know the majority of liberal’s believe that adults cannot differentiate the difference between PS2 and Big Iron, but I tend to disagree. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Daniel Minardi at 4/29/08 Ah, same old tired arguments. Those handgun bans sure work. I can't wait for DC v. Heller to come down and end all the handgun ban talk for eternity. I think the arguments from our side have been presented already. Just another vote from the SCCC crowd, here. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Wendy Weinbaum at 4/29/08 As a Jewess in the US, I would like to remind everyone that criminals are stopped by FIREARMS, not by talk. And that America wasn't won with a registered gun. That is why all REAL Americans put our 2nd Amendment FIRST! And you may quote me on that. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Rich at 4/29/08 WOW, a mathematician that does not understand numbers, facts, or statistical analysis of trends. You should be promoting other pro-life issues than the one regarding concealed carry on campus. Concealed carry will save lives or reduce the chances futher of an attack occuring on a campus. How about addressing the 985 daily abortions that happen in this country before you get to the relatively few, in your eyes, deaths that would occur from an expanded concealed carry on campus. Rich Flag Abuse
Posted by: Glendower at 4/29/08 "The only way to prevent events like the one that occurred on our campus last year is to take the guns out of the equation...." But your campus had already taken guns "out of the equation" before the shootings. It was a gun-free zone. How can you argue that taking guns out of the equation will prevent future campus shootings? Flag Abuse
Posted by: Ben P at 4/29/08 You have the right to believe what you do. But please give some type of facts to uphold your views. Regarding gun bans, we know they do not work. Chicago banned handguns in 1981, this past weekend 41 people were shot. Since the passing of the handgun ban in D.C. violent crime has risen in all but 1 year. Doesn't make for too much of an argument on your part. I carry all day, everyday, as long as it is legal to do so and have yet to shoot,injure,or harass anyone with my gun. But if the time comes that I must protect myself, it is everyman for himself and I don't want to have to throw a book at my attacker. ~Ben Flag Abuse
Posted by: John H at 4/29/08 Here's a story from Florida where 2 manager who had concealed weapons subdued an armed man who was in their store and pulled his weapon out over a dispute. No one was shot or injured, and things like this happen a lot more than the media will report. Guns, when properly used, do save lives. http://www.palmbeachpost.com/localnews/content/local_news/epaper/2008/04/29/0429groceryguns.html Flag Abuse
Posted by: Dan's happiness at 4/29/08 People need to get over your silly fears. Guns save lives every day. Outlaw guns and only outlaws will have them. Guns don't kill people do. Why not ban cars too then they kill people! There, Dan, you can rest easy now. Now, we await the typical arguments against carry, including "students are all drunk!", "there will be blood in the halls!", "guns kill", and my personal favorite "campus is a peaceful place and guns don't belong!" Funny that those same old arguments are made time and again, and never stand up to scrutiny. Yet your favorite quotes are made and never argued. But hey, at least you're paying attention! Flag Abuse
Posted by: Jason T at 4/29/08 Again, the question is what makes campus so different from other public places? Every permit holder can carry concealed weapons into most public places in Blacksburg. Why, then, should only non-Hokies be able to legally carry concealed weapons on the VT campus? That is the reality of the current policy. Flag Abuse
Posted by: R.J. at 4/29/08 Too bad the author of this letter can't deal in reality. No one can be stopped by an anti-gun policy if he's bent on murder, but it has been proven that where concealed carry goes up, violent crime goes down. Interesting that he notes those campus shootings are very rare. That prompts me to ask, "What's the problem, then?" They may be rare, but when they DO occur, the cost in lives is horrendous! Those who would carry concealed to class do not suddenly become crazed killers just because they cross the campus property line. The "Wild West" argument has proven false everywhere the people are allowed to carry. CCW holders do not "pull iron" over petty disputes. They do so when they recognize that their lives are in danger by a credible threat, and not before. But even if some nutjob pecipitates a "Wild West" shootout, I would prefer that to the unimpeded massacres we are seeing now. In the end, the author prefers "carnage as usual", whether he realizes it or not. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Dan at 4/29/08 Three out of five in half a day isn't too bad. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Ken Stanton at 4/29/08 fsilber said "professor ought to be able" and "let older female students carry" -- ah, the "pick and choose who's lives are worth the most." No matter what your reasoning, it borders on playing God and calling out who YOU think is responsible and who isn't. Instead of basing this on your opinion, base it on fact and statistics. There are numerous citations of how CCW holders are responsible, students/graduates and "regular Joes," so be cautious when proposing such solutions. Besides, you run the risk of sounding like a gov't official like Kaine, who signed a bill this year saying that Commonwealth Attorneys can carry with NO permit, NO training, on school grounds, can conceal in a restaurant that serves alcohol, etc etc - why are their lives so much more special than those of students, faculty, and staff? Flag Abuse
Posted by: Will Bulloss at 4/29/08 http://webapp.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/mortrate10_sy.html Everyone go here and crunch the numbers for yourself! Compare to other causes, such as being hit by a car. Flag Abuse
Posted by: John Smith at 4/29/08 "What is actually an everyday occurrence is the death of approximately 80 Americans because of gun violence." How many of those 80 deaths were caused by persons with a valid license to Carry a Concealed Weapon? The answer is ZERO. CCW license holders are proven to be the one of the most law-abiding groups in the country. With literally millions of CCW licensees in the country, and with a proven good track record of over 20 years, there have been statistically ZERO problems with CCW licensees. Please do a Google search for unjustified shootings by CCW licensees. Flag Abuse
Posted by: John Smith at 4/29/08 "I do not want some 21-year-old student sitting next to me in my math class carrying a gun." But there are 21 year old students with valid Concealed Carry Licenses sitting next to you in movie theaters. 21 year old CCW licensees are shopping next to you in Wal-Mart. They are walking next to you on public sidewalks. They are shopping next to you in grocery stores, and yet there are literally NO Problems with 21 year old CCW licensees. Please explain how these exact same 21 year old CCW licensees somehow become a danger to society when they cross a college or university property line? Flag Abuse
Posted by: Kevin at 4/29/08 "It'll be the wild west!"... the same old tired arguments against concealed carry. The current situation we find ourselves in is worse than the wild west ever was. Gun bans are a joke, look at DC and Chicago for starters. I'm glad when these chicken little anti-gun liberals issue the typical tripe arguments, the SCCC is there responding, "I'm your huckleberry." Flag Abuse
Posted by: Anonymous at 4/29/08 Students for Concealed Carry of Grenade Launchers on Campus (SCCGLC) www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=12815334421 Flag Abuse
Posted by: fsilber at 4/29/08 At least the professor ought to be able to carry a gun to class. If you cannot trust a professor, he ought not be allowed anywhere near a college campus. Maybe we can let older female students carry, too. It doesn't have to be everyone. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Will Bulloss at 4/29/08 Fact: Those with Concealed Carry permits are 5.7 times less likely to be arrested for violent offenses than the general public. Flag Abuse
Posted by: DanG at 4/29/08 It would be really nice if one of these opinion pieces that was against CCW on campus would actually do some basic research on the subject and not just make up issues. CCW is legal in most states on college campuses. It is against policy in most other states for students and faculty to carry. It is legal in all public colleges and universities in Utah for both to carry. It is legal and specifically permitted at the Colorado State University and the Blue Ridge Community College in VA. Prior to places having established track records the wild scenarios put forth in this opinion piece actually scared people into believing they could happen. Now there is a 20+ year track record of concealed carry in multiple states plus at least 10 years of history specifically dealing with this issue. Where have these weird scenarios happened? I'm sure if they were going to, they would have, so you should have a lot of episodes to back up your claims. If not, you're just another person who wants to dictate what others can and cannot do based on your own irrational fears. Irrational fears are called phobias and you really should seek psychological help to overcome them rather than requiring the rest of the world to cater to your phobias. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Matt at 4/29/08 Having a concealed weapon is a last resort. So, when all preventative measures have been taken, and someone slips through the cracks and decides to start shooting, we at least have one more chance to save lives. I took drivers ED, listened to my father's advice about driving defensively, and I'm always aware of my surroundings. Despite all of these preventative measures, I still wear my seat-belt JUST IN CASE. Sky marshals are also a last resort...they are there in case someone gets through the system. Students with a CCW could be there just in case. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Terry at 4/29/08 Really..."so not relevant". Who deals with determined mass shooters more than our military in Iraq or the Israelis? Granted, terrorists have different motivations and it occurs a lot more than on a US college campus. Sky marshalls are a concealed deterent (response) to those intent on harming unarmed citizens. Yet, I can't remember one saving an aircraft... Flag Abuse
Posted by: pro2a at 4/29/08 yea, terry. because "you" don't think it'll have an effect on classroom shootings, we shouldn't allow it. get real, that is the worst argument i've ever heard. addressing mass shootings should be a combination of all of these approaches, and there is no possible way you could ever do enough prevention and awareness to eliminate all risk of attack. your response is just so not relevant. then once we step outside of classroom shootings, your reasoning goes right to the trash can, like the ones in this article. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Terry at 4/29/08 I think SCCC is arguing for something that will have a negligible effect in deterring or countering gun violence on campus(es). Obviously awareness, prevention and preparation (including an armed response) are important in dealing with any crisis, shooting, terrorist act, etc. But the main efforts should be toward AWARENESS (of those who may be suicidal) and PREVENTION (thru treatment or sending the mentally ill student home). Even our military and the Israelis realized that intelligence and prevention are the key...especially with suicidal bombers or IEDs. Its probably not sky marshalls deterring potential hijackers. More likely they realize that passengers will beat them to death (with or without guns or bombs) because they are aware it can be a one way trip... Flag Abuse
Posted by: Brandon Wilson at 4/29/08 this is the same old argument over and over again. what if... what if... the SCCC doesn't present what if's... we present proven facts. if you go back through old newspapers this is the same arguments each state went through before each passed their own Concealed carry laws. everyone knew that it would be absolute panic and shootouts everyday, but guess what? never happened. in fact almost every state that passed a concealed carry law, the crime rate went down, everywhere else without still on the rise. as for college students not experienced enough, i can tell you that most of us spend more time at the ranges improving our accuracy than most cops are required to do. the point is, think about the risks we take right now as we all walk on to campus defensless. we took the risks and look were it landed us, 32 dead. and we havent learned from that. yes the risks do outweigh the choice. that's why i have chosen to carry, because i have chosen not to risk my life anymore. we tried it with the gun-free zone, obviously that worked out real well. now its time to try a proven method of crime control. NO LONGER DO I FEAR FOR MY LIFE, BUT NOW I MAKE THE CRIMINAL FEAR FOR HIS LIFE! Flag Abuse
Posted by: Mike at 4/28/08 "So, would the benefits of allowing students to carry weapons on campus outweigh the risks? No! What may decrease is the number of students killed in large shootings like the one that so greatly affected our campus last spring, but the reverse of this would be the number of single handgun homicides that would inevitably occur if people were able to carry a gun with them into everyday situations." The benefits have without exception outweighed any small risk. Just look at the majority of states that now allow concealed carry. We just don't see these hypothetical shootouts that the anti concealed carry people predict. Instead we see a reduction in crime. This "inevitable" increase in "the number of single handgun homicides" just doesn't happen. In fact, at the 11 colleges that currently allow concealed carry by licensed student, there has not been a single gun accident or shootout. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Mike at 4/28/08 "Campus shootings such as those on our campus and at Northern Illinois University earlier this year are not everyday occurrences; in fact they are extremely rare." No, but assaults, murders, robbery, and raps ARE everyday occurrences. Guns prevent these crimes somewhere between 800,000 and 2,500,000 times a year, according to around 14 different studies done on the subject. While the chances of another mass shooting is rare, the chances of these other crimes that don’t make headlines is likely at some point in your life. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Alyson Boyce at 4/28/08 Ban handguns? Take a look at Washington D.C. where handguns ARE banned....that's a pretty peaceful place, right? Looks like it's working for them.... Flag Abuse
Posted by: Ken Stanton at 4/28/08 "bring up some issues … seem to be overlooking." And then you go and spout the same old rhetoric, John. First, SCCC takes a firm stance AGAINST any kind of speculation of heroism last April, and always have. The argument is that no one HAD THE CHOICE, so we will never know. "everyday occurrence is the death of approximately 80 Americans because of gun violence." The existence of gun violence only supports SCCC's cause - as we've seen, only equal power can stop a gun. "I do not want some 21-year-old student sitting next to me in my math class carrying a gun." How do you know they aren't now? What about when you're at the movies? There is a good chance there are a few people sitting next to you who are carrying. "unless ... a private dealer at a gun show..." Oh the ol' "gun-show loophole" - unrelated and it doesn't exist... next. "the average college student is not trained to know how and when to use a gun properly in self-defense." Way to sell out your fellow students as irresponsible and incapable of life&death decision-making. "the line on when it is appropriately used?" Maybe the law? It isn't different on campus! "take the guns out of the equation" Yes, that 'no-guns' policy on campus sure makes criminals tremble. "Ban handguns, anybody?" Same old conclusion. You presented nothing new, we address these points every day. Bring in some new arguments next time. Flag Abuse
Posted by: Anonymous at 4/28/08 Dan, I would rather hear statements supporting CCW than all of the unfounded reasons for not having guns on campus. "What if they get drunk and start shooting..." yeah, you hear about this stuff all the time off campus right? Do you realize how many people in Blacksburg own guns and carry concealed weapons already? Flag Abuse
Posted by: Dan at 4/28/08 I hope your ready for the large slew of, "Get over your silly fear", "Guns save lives", "Outlaw guns and only outlaws will have them", "Guns don't kill people do", and my personal favorite, "Why not ban cars too then they kill people!" This is a good letter but I promise you'll get all said statements above and maybe more. Flag Abuse






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