The Case Against Concealed Carry Guns on Campus

THE CASE AGAINST K CONCEALED CARRY GUNS ON CAMPUS Schools have traditionally been gun-free zones, but some states are considering loosening or changing laws when it comes to firearms on campus. School The overwhelming majority of the 4,300 colleges and universities in the United States of America prohibit the carrying of firearms on their campuses. [1] A study conducted by the Department of Justice found that 93% of violent crimes that victimize college students occur off campus [1] COMMON ARGUMENTS AGAINST CAMPUS CARRY 1. Guns on campus would lead to an escalation in violent crime. [3] College lifestyle is defined by alcohol and drug abuse. Why would any sane person want to add guns to that mix? Drugs and Alcohol [4] College gun owners are more likely than the average student to: a.) Engage in binge drinking; need an alcoholic drink first thing in the morning. b.) Use cocaine or crack. c.) Vandalize property; and get in trouble with police. Guns on campus would lead to an increased 2. number of suicides by college students. [3] Suicide and Mental Health Issues[4] About 1,100 college students commit suicide every year, and another 24,000 attempt to do so. If a gun is used in a suicide attempt, more than 90% of the time it is fatal, compared to a 3% fatality rate for suicide attempts by drug overdose. [4] Gun Theft Risks [4] Dorms are notoriously vulnerable to theft. It would be too easy for someone to steal an unattended firearm from a dorm. 4. Do We Really Want Guns in school classrooms? POLICE DO NOT CROSS POLICE DO NOT CROSS POLICE DO NO POLICE CROSS POLICE DO NO POLICE DO NOT CROSS POLICE a.) The job of defending campuses against violent attacks should be left to the professionals. [3] b.) Colleges are emotio- nally volatile environments. Allowing guns on campus will turn classroom debates into crime scenes. [3] Even trained police officers, on average, hit their intended targets less than 20% of the time. [4] Guns on campuses would turn disputes over parking spaces and traffic accidents into shootouts. c.) In an active shooter scenario like the one that d.) The answer to bullets flying is not more bullets flying. occurred at Virginia Tech, a student or faculty member with a gun would only make things worse. e.) The answer to school violence is prevention, not guns on campus. SCHOOL JOIN THE DEBATE AT wwW.THEBADGEGUYS.COM Sources: [1] http://www.armedcampuses.org/ [2] http://www.ncsl.org/issues-research/educ/guns-on-campus- overview.aspx [3] http://concealedcampus.org/common-arguments/ [4] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/usa /8338998/The-US-Campus-Gun-Debate-For-and-Against.html