Perez 6 ENC 1101 Professor Boumararte 24 November 2015 Guns on Campus: A Risk or a Benefit? Erica Perez Guns on Campus: A Risk or a Benefit? In the recent past, learning institutions have increasingly become crime scenes with dozens of students and professors killed and others wounded. This has sparked debate on whether concealed guns should be allowed within colleges or not. The existing laws prohibits anyone from carrying a gun in and around school premises, but the proponents of the matter are calling for the legalization of concealed guns in schools as the first step in keeping learning institutions safe. They argue that this will give potential victims the ability to respond and defend themselves against criminals. However, …show more content…
In the event of an attack where students and tutors are to defend themselves, they are unlikely to stop the attackers. Unlike trained police officers, students have a lower hit percentage especially when under a terrifying incident of live shootings. This increases the risk of shooting innocent bystanders or other properties. During such high-stress situations, the majority of students will even find it difficult to draw out their weapons to defend themselves against the assailants. This is majorly due to the lack of the much needed experience and training to maintain their composure and ability to make rational judgments on the course of action to take when attacked. The assumption that students respond appropriately to attacks is somehow untrue. This is because, the lack of training will make them shoot unnecessarily or even shoot their colleagues in the process of shootouts. Therefore, it is evident that allowing gun possession in schools and learning institutions will have little impact in improving safety in schools. A good example of such a case is the Virginia Tech Massacre which took place back in 2007.In this incident, a student opened fire killing thirty-two people and wounded seventeen others in the course of the shooting. This sparked the debate as to whether concealed gun possession would help students defend themselves against such a mishap (Webster & Jon, 216). An important thing to note is that majority of such cases are suicidal. Therefore, with or without …show more content…
Works Cited Chen, Grace. "Should Instructors Be Allowed to Carry Guns on Campus? "CommunityCollegeReview.com.Web. 8 Nov 2015. DeFilippis, Evan. Campus Gun Control Works- Why Guns and Schools Do Not Mix. 7 June 2014. Web. 8 Nov. 2015. Guns Don 't Belong On College Campuses - Here 's Why. Publichealthwatch.10 Mar 2014. Web Nov. 8, 2015. Issues for Debate in American Public Policy: Selections from the Cq Researcher. 2009. Washington, DC: CQ Press, 2009. Web. Webster, Daniel W, and Jon S. Vernick. Reducing Gun Violence in America: Informing Policy with Evidence and Analysis. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press, 2013. Web Webster, Daniel, W., Vernick, Jon, S., Vittes, Katherine, McGinty, Emma, E., Teret, Stephen, P. And Frattaroli, Shannon. The Case for Gun Policy Reforms in America. Baltimore, MD: John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, 2012.
Gun Carry on University grounds I opposed legalization of carrying firearms on college and university grounds. Bringing guns on campus would only increase the danger. In higher education venerable subject material is taught to students putting their minds not in the best frame of mind. Paul Ortiz, associate professor at UF, says, “...guns on campus will be a distraction to our teaching, research and service missions,” this is true. Students will not be fully engaged in their studies when they are constantly thinking about who will break down next and go on a shooting spree, it would be so easy with the pistol already there.
Also, students are legally allowed to be armed and able to defend themselves and others in public and at home, so it makes sense that they should be able to defend themselves at college. The United States has millions of guns and most people who own guns and carry them are law-abiding citizens, like you and I. In addition to holstering a gun a person has to be licensed by the state of residence, so students will have training and knowledge of firearms and their power. In contrast, there are some people who strongly oppose campus carry; they believe that students having guns will increase campus violence and shootings, however, this is not the case. There is plenty of evidence, from creditable sources, that show that more guns there are, the less violence there is.
Students today live their day-to-day lives in constant fear of what seems inevitable. The United States has one of the highests rates of school shootings in the world. Society has become so desensitized to these shootings that they are no longer shocked to hear about another school falling victim to it. Even when students take a stand against gun violence, the only solution offered to them is a proposition to arm teachers. However, bringing more guns into a school will only further deteriorate the situation.
The campus carry law should be banned because of the concerns and negative viewpoint it has from students. A survey of college students in, “Students’ Opinions about Concealed Firearms on Campuses,” came to a finding “that 78% of participants were unsupportive of allowing students, faculty, and visitors to carry concealed handguns on campus” (Eaves 16). The law is making students feel uncomfortable in a place where they shouldn’t. Students should not have to feel uneasy sitting in class and listening to a lecture. This uneasiness can distract students from learning because they are concerned for their lives and continually thinking “who has a gun in here?”
Alfie Kohn is an American author and speaker who focuses on human behavior. In his book Punished by Rewards, Kohn makes the statement, “If children feel safe, they can take risks, ask questions, make mistakes, learn to trust, share their feelings, and grow.” This statements legitimacy and truth may address many concerns, one being the debated topic on whether or not teachers should have access to weapons in a school building. Once the pros and cons are weighed out, letting schools have armed teachers in the building provides safety, creates a better, safer learning environment and helps form a bond of trust between students and their teacher. Having armed teachers provides security for both the students and other staff in the building.
Gun laws are constantly changing rapidly, but the latest issue concerning them is whether or not legislation should allow guns on college and university campuses. Throughout the last couple of years, guns have become a strong topic all over the United States, because they are coming into the possession of the wrong people. Many students and some teachers feel strongly about this topic, many are concerned about issues it may cause. But, some do not consider how unsafe this world is, and bringing guns to campuses isn’t going to make it easier or harder for people to attain them. Firearms should be prohibited based on the crime rates at college campuses, the fact the police take ample amounts of time to arrive on scenes, many students cannot defend themselves in certain situations, and the second amendment states that anyone over the age of 18 has the right to bear arms.
According to Armed Capuses.org, “The overwhelming majority of the 4,400 colleges and universities in the United States prohibit the carrying of firearms on their campuses”. The controversy that surrounds the concealed carry on college campuses vary from negative comments to positive comments. The focus should not be would weapons make people feel uncomfortable like most articles are introducing. The main focus
Over the past few weeks, arming teachers has been a controversial topic throughout the country. School shootings have taken the lives of many over the past few years, yet they are becoming more and more frequent. In today’s society children shouldn’t have to go to school worried if they are going to be safe that day. If teachers are armed it will add that extra bit of protection to the children. A big question is if arming teachers is even going to matter if an active shooter happens to be in that school.
Permitting guns on campus will jeopardize the safety of the people on campus instead of secure it. College is a new environment for students, and people do not know everyone personally. People could be walking around campus not knowing whether the person behind them can have a gun pointed right at them. In the classrooms, the students sit next to each other how can one know the person next to them isn't mentally stable and carrying a gun? For instance, one time in class this boy named James became furious when he was given his test back, and he left the classroom immediately after seeing his test.
Guns Should Not Be Allowed On College Campuses A recent statistic, show that there have been more than forty-seven deadly shooting took place on a school campus in the years of 2015, and these number keep increasing each year. As a college students, being able to concentrate in school have always been their number one priority. However, knowing that the student who is walk, seating, or standing next to them carry a loaded gun with them will not help these students achieved their goal, but cause them to lose concentration and drop off out college.
Due to several campus shootings, some states have contemplated the idea of whether or not to authorize guns on campus colleges. For some states, shootings are situations that point in a need to allow concealed carry weapons on campus. On the other hand, other states seek to the need to strict restrictions on keeping guns off campuses. Since the legalization of licensed concealed carry of handguns on Texas colleges and universities has been an issue of debate, the most important role for any institution is to provide a safe learning environment, and this can be accomplish by creating school programs that promote training and awareness for students.
The first recorded school shooting in America dates back to 1764, during Pontiac’s War. Since then, hundreds have occurred, claiming many lives (Galvin). In the modern era, the rarity of these events has been steadily decreasing, which may be caused by the confusion that surrounds gun laws and regulations. The new debate over this issue is likely due to the Columbine High School shooting in 1999. Since that event, about 65 people who have committed a school shooting have referenced Columbine as a motive.
The use of and the owning of guns is a very hot and debated topic in society today. For many, this is a life and death debate due to the recent and numerous school shootings. These school shootings have caused an outcry for more gun control, specifically in relation to the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting. Despite these calls, increased gun control is not the answer. Most gun owners’ use their guns responsibly and for good purposes.
To begin with, we are living in one of the most violent time in the last decade. There has been more mass shooting in schools and colleges than ever before. Government can not seem to find a solution for this mass shooting. This brings us to the main topic of whether or not we should allow guns in college campus. There might be some benefit of carrying guns in college such as making the shooter afraid and prevent a mass shooting.
Guns have no role in our country schools. Schools and colleges are places of education. Students should be free to learn in an environment away from every day violence. The catastrophes that took place at Sandy Hook Elementary School, Columbine High School, and Virginia Tech. confirm the penetrating conclusion guns have in our nation’s schools. Violence on campus has Students, Parent, and University Staff all concerned and looking for preventative measures.