First off, lets take a look at the facts. In the past 12 years there have been 27 shootings on college campuses across the nation. That's a little less than 2 a year. No one knows exactly what to attribute the rise in school shootings to, yet the most popular things to blame are video games and poor parenting. The solution is just as obscure as the problem itself. Many anti-gun advocates like to go after the second amendment, claiming that without gun's there would be no shootings. Unfortunately, this assessment of the issue at hand is flawed. There are simply too many guns in this country to just start taking them away from people, and I can assure you that with as many gun "lovers" there are, that wouldn't turn out good for anybody. So if we can't take them away, are Texas' legislatures doing the right thing by allowing them on campuses?
Well, it depends on how you look at it. For those worried that everyone around them in the classroom would have a gun, this couldn't be farther from the truth. Getting a concealed carry permit is not easy, trust me, and putting your name on a state list of concealed carry holders usually wards away the ill willed. Most criminals that have concealed weapons don't get permits, because, well.... they are criminals. Also, knowing that campuses are no longer gun free zones may deter murderers from even pulling the gun in the first place. This opinion can be seen from statistics from Just Facts.
Since 1995, when the Texas right to carry law came into effect, homicides declined by 30%. Could this have the same effect on campus shootings? The main problem is that, because campuses are gun free zones, armed gunmen are met with no resistance when they decide to do their massacre. Campus police SOP for dealing with an armed individual on school grounds is to 1. Fall back, 2. Establish a perimeter, and 3. Wait for backup. This leaves the gunman with opportunity to lay waste to the hundreds of unarmed students at his leisure.
The argument that the whole school would turn into a shootout has many holes. The first thing a CHL holder understands is that one is to not respond with force unless they feel that their life is directly in danger. This means that a CHL holder has been instructed that if he hears gunshots on the other side of the campus, he is to get as far away from the situation as possible, not charge in with guns blazing.
On the other side, I know that firing a gun in a life and death situation is far from shooting at targets in a controlled environment, and the concealed carry holder may be a threat to more than just the gunman while responding to the threat. One thing that I feel video games have done, is misconstrue what being in a firefight is really like. People that think they would "pwn" like they do in "Call of Duty" are in for a real surprise. Only after the adrenaline dump and wetting themselves will they realize this and they may place shots that harm others rather than hitting the intended target.
The issue is not a black and white one, and the Legislature will have their hands full figuring out this one. No matter what they decide, just remember not to live in fear.
If we do that, the bad guys win.
I agree with the articles that were posted on topics such as education funding and Planned Parenthood. But may question is why the change? Would it help the surrounding people or would it put a hold on the people.
ReplyDeleteIt seems very easy for the government to come up with better solution to solve what they call problems in Texas maybe source of income for our economy or rules to throw together to state that the government is doing their job. Only time will tell what’s really helping and what’s hurting Texas the state. I have a question for the government would they follow these same rules and guideline that they put in effect for the people like their self to follow.
I feel as there are too many of our children not making good in the world because these changes is not getting education for free. These rules makes it easier for them to harm them self such as carrying guns on camps, drinking at the age of 18, and so etc. I also feel as these changes will increase to the problem that economy is having.
I feel that with the laws that already in place stays the same (no changes) then our children /student have to try harder to do wrong. Students have shown that they are not confirm to anything that can or let them have a good time, especially when it have nothing to do with cognitive of making his or her own decision. I am very sure that these changes will lead to more problems.