DON’T CARRY ON CAMPUS
(In response to Rachel Gerrick’s Sept. 13 column, “Campus carry makes sense.”)
I would like to commend Ms. Gerrick on a well-written column; however, I must disagree with her position.
Allowing firearms on campus does not make sense, and is not desired by the majority of people.
Two surveys conducted by the Graduate and Professional Student Association in 2009 and 2011 consistently showed that this segment of the student population opposed firearms on campus by a 2 to 1 majority.
I do believe that most gun owners are responsible people, however, I also know that few are trained to deal with active shooter situations.
School shootings are generally pre-meditated and thus, no gun policy will stop those with intent to harm. The real problem arises in how such a situation would be dealt with.
While a number of students are law enforcement officers or veterans who may have the training to deal with such a situation, many gun owners have not, and never will, be in an active shooter situation and will likely cause more harm than good if they were to engage their own firearm in such a situation.
Several respondents to the GPSA survey were law enforcement officers or veterans who oppose guns on campus.
Numerous students, as well as faculty I have talked to, believe that the presence of firearms on campus may limit the free exchange of ideas.
Additionally, there are three daycare centers on campus as well as numerous labs with dangerous pathogens that will be put at risk.
Rhian Stotts
Graduate Student
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