The Second Amendment, or right to bear arms, could possibly extend to college campuses if House Bill 2001 were to pass.
The recent Phoenix shooting has people worried, leading to such proposals.
The bill would allow faculty members at Arizona universities and community colleges to carry a concealed weapon while working on campus, and Texas could follow suit.
“Weapons on campus is the stupidest idea ever and will only feed into the fear of gun violence,” Anna Gallegos, communications student, said. “What happened in Arizona was truly a tragic and freak accident. However, everyone packing heat does not mean that you’ll prevent a future tragedy. The chances of someone being there at the right moment at the right time during a crime are incredibly slim.”
Some students and staff members expressed that they wouldn’t feel safer because of who would be carrying the weapons.
“Guns on campus would not make me feel safer,” said Wilson Torres, a food service worker at Oberholtzer Hall.
“The UH police department is trained to protect us in case of an emergency, and professors are here to teach the students. We should leave guns to be carried by cops who have been trained to handle one well. A gun is a serious thing, and if not handled safely, innocent people could get hurt instead of the person who’s causing the trouble.”
Lieutenant Bret Collier of the UHDPS said this isn’t the first time a bill like this has been proposed.
“It has been filed, but is still in stage one of the process. There have been many bills like this one across several states in the past few years, and I am not personally aware of any that have been successful,” Collier said. “It’s a polarizing topic; I expect you will find strong feelings in both directions.”
English faculty member Bruce Martin was not optimistic about the possible passing of House Bill 2001 either.
“Some will argue that no legislation will prohibit an angry or mentally unstable or completely unhinged person from coming to our peaceful campus and do the unspeakable,” Martin said. “True, but neither will arming faculty or staff keep these people from coming to our campus.
“The argument is that fewer people might be killed. This doesn’t comfort me. Guns on campus may make us feel safer for the moment, but we lose so much of our communion and purpose by believing that the intrusion of force in the guise of safety makes the University a better place. Idealistic, I know, but that’s what a university is really about.”
According to the National Conference of State Legislators, Utah already permits college instructors to have a concealed weapon on campus. Arizona would be the second state to have this law if House Bill 2001 passes.
“I think for someone to get a gun, they should go through background checks and training to make sure the gun doesn’t go into the wrong hands,” Una Hadzimahmutovic, Hotel and Restaurant Management student, said.
The shooting was in tucson, not phoenix. Get the basic facts straight or it makes you look like a moron.
So, the author didn't mention one person in favor of the bill. I'm sure that there is at least one person in TX that is in support of enhanced abilities to carry a weapon whereever they go. Seriously, it's TX. The author did manage to highlight the ignorance of some of those that oppose it, "a freak accident" yeah, kids bringing guns to school and killing people is not common at all. And then for Una, who needs to study before speaking, all weapon purchases require background checks as certain people are not allowed to purchase weapons (sex offenders, felons, etc), hand guns have a waiting period. Concealed weapons permits require additional background checks and there are safety regulations that must be met in order to qualify.
doood…it's NOT TX! It's Arizona!
Those in the article opposed to law abiding citizens carrying a gun stated that a police officer’s job is to porotect the campus community. This would be true if police were armed and stationed in every classroom, building, dorm, dining hall, or assembly area. Unfortunately, when cops are not in these places and a random act of terrorism or violence breaks out, police are at least 5 mins away from the scene. Furthermore, when they do arrive, they never run head first into a situation. They must wait for back up, supervisors, a game plan, and will then methodically enter and assess a situation. THE POINT HERE IS NOT TO DEMEAN WHAT THYE DO OR HOW THEY DO IT. A DEAD OFFICER BECAUSE OF HASTY DECISIONS IS OF NO GOOD TO THE VICTIMS. ALSO, AN OFFICER WITHOUT A CLEAR THOUGHT PROCESS AND PLAN CAN HAPHAZARDLY INJURE OR KILL INNOCENT VICTIMS AS WELL. The point is to illustrate a citizen who has been trained and certified to carry a concealed weapon should be trained to use his or her weapon effectively and correctly and can make a difference in a grave situation. Only an insider during a situation can react quick enough to save lives and further blood shed.
This article was poorly written and even more poorly researched as to the pros of a properly placed weapon inside an act of violence should one occur. The supporting evidence against such was based on feelings and people who, I am sure, had never sat through a conceal carry course.
I live in a state where hunting is extremely important, but guns on campuses is a scary thought. It doesn’t matter if they go through gun safety, they just need a motive to shoot. I know some say guns don’t kill people do. Well then don’t give the person a gun. Problem solved. I am a hunter but I never thought of needing a firearm in class to feel safe.
It should be noted that the 3 major public universities, along with a comm. college district in Arizona, as well as many schools in TX oppose guns on college campuses. See http://www.keepgunsoffcampus.org
It should be noted that guns are already legal on campus except inside buildings and at the Kindergarten through 12th grade schools in Texas where licensed concealed carry has been allowed for years now, there has been no problem. Additionally, several major Texas Universities are for this since they realize that guns are less likely to fall into the wrong hands inside peoples pants where they remain holstered and secured, than in a car in the parking lot or hidden in the bushes outside buildings if you ride a bike instead of a car that day (I drive a car, but …. just sayin')
Perhaps just the knowledge that some professors are carrying concealed firearms will be enough to deter a would be criminal from committing a heinous act. Concealed carry, as a preventative measure, is often ignored because of the difficulty in proving its effectiveness. The author fails to mention the importance of the element of surprise. Marked and armed police officers can be patterned, random faculty or administrators carrying a concealed firearm cannot.
“Weapons on campus is the stupidest idea ever and will only feed into the fear of gun violence,” Anna Gallegos, communications student, said. “What happened in Arizona was truly a tragic and freak accident. However, everyone packing heat does not mean that you’ll prevent a future tragedy. The chances of someone being there at the right moment at the right time during a crime are incredibly slim.”
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Really? Is that your argument?? So allowing even less people to have guns (i.e. only police) will somehow increase the chances of preventing another tragedy?
The fewer guns there are on campus, the fewer guns there are for the crazies to get a hold of.
So, I must ask, why you think "the crazies" would be reaching into my pants in classrooms to "get a hold of" something that's concealed in there that they don't even know is there?
Rather than allowing faculty members to carry weapons why doesn't UH go another route and install automatic locks and windows in classroom doors? The Lone Star College implemented a rule following the Virginia Tech massacre that all doors must be closed five minutes after class starts. It is up to the professor to decide if they want to allow late students admission. If there is a knock on the door, you can clearly see who is at the door. Is the absolute safest measure, no; it is however safer than not seeing who is at a windowless door with no locks and could possibly open fire on a classroom before a faculty member could even start to pull their weapon.
You want the doors to lock after class starts? What are we, a bunch of kindergartners?
"kindergartners"
Be glad this isn't San Antonio College, where you have to have "Bathroom Buddies"
The "Safety in Numbers concept failed when two "bathroom buddies" got robbed inside a campus bathroom in the Student Union building near the center of their campus. last December.
I can see it now, Grad Students posting advertisements for "Bathroom Buddy wanted"
"install automatic locks and windows in classroom doors"
At Virginia Tech, Cho brought chains and locks, your idea would save him carrying 30 pounds of chain so he could carry more ammo I suppose. Cho shot the locks out of locked and barricaded classroom doors.
Thats a great idea! Bullets CAN'T travel through glass or wood doors.
GUNS KILL PEOPLE ARE ALL GOING NUTTY DUE TO THE ECONOMY…NO GUNS ON CAMPUS NO ILLEGAL GUNS WOULD BE AROUND IF BACKGROUND CHECKS WERE MADE BY GREETY SELLERS..I HATE GUNS
u got the damn facts wrong
"Guns don't kill people, the government does" – Dale Gribble from King of the Hill……haha
you may reconsider this optoion of having a gun when you yourself may need one when you are approached unarmed
“I think for someone to get a gun, they should go through background checks and training to make sure the gun doesn’t go into the wrong hands,” Una Hadzimahmutovic, Hotel and Restaurant Management student, said.
UMMM…. THEY DO. Ignorance must seriously be bliss
gets you facts right moron
I find it funny that the dailycougar paper has yet to post any coments from this page on their 'Online Top Reads' section. The author has flawed and biased opinions.
In order to even carry a concealed weapon on campus, you must be over 21 (18 if in the military), register for a CHL, take a government approved course that usually takes several days. In this course, you learn gun safety, handling, and firing techniques. I should also met ion it can cost upwards of $100. Then, you have to buy a concealable holster ($20-$70). Then, you must buy a handgun ($250+) and ammunition. THEN, you have to wait sometime around 70 days to get your permit from the DPS.
So, anyone who is carrying a handgun LEGALLY, following the laws, is trained in safety and has invested serious money into their 2nd amendment right. And you say they cannot carry? Its not as though we are allowing random hoodlums to acquire guns and brandish them openly. And also, if there was a gunman on campus, would you rather be at his mercy or have 1-2 trained citizens with firearms in the classroom ready to take him down. Thats my 2 cents.
Wait a sec so let me get this straight. There has been violence recently on campuses involving guns. So to lower the violence we need… more guns on campus. That makes tons of sense! 🙂 and we also should have a wild west themed open bar in class as well!