Spring Break
Universities consider concealed-carry laws
Pamela Acosta
Issue date: 4/11/08 Section: News
Groups such as SCC argue that college campuses should not be any different than any other place in Arkansas.
"You don't know if the person behind you at the movie theater or the person buying milk in front of you in Wal-Mart is carrying. Campuses are not any different, " Robinson said.
"People who have permits are responsible, mature students, citizens. Do you see a problem carrying in Wal-Mart? There isn't."
In Arkansas, guns also are prohibited in police stations, jails, courthouses, polling places, government buildings, sporting events, bars, schools, airports and churches, according to the state Web site, http://state.ar.us.
But not everybody thinks like Robinson.
"In this issue, there are cons and pros, and I think that there are more cons, " said Lt. Gary Crain, public information officer for the UA Police Department.
Statistics indicate that in Arkansas, there's a small fraction of people who have permission to carry a concealed weapon. The likelihood of one of those people being in the right place at the right time is slim, and allowing guns is just bringing another weapon on campus, Crain said.
This would open the door to people having guns to defend themselves when a theft or a fit of anger occurs.
In 1993, during a student hearing at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, a student pulled out two loaded pistols and opened fire, injuring three people before a police officer killed him, according to a Jan. 25, 2002, New York Times article.
"Let's say a student goes to see a professor and the student is angry," Crain said. "Is that professor feeling safe? In the resident hall, if you knew someone down the hall had a gun, are you feeling safe if you're having a confrontation with this person?"
In 1991, a man entered Luby's Cafeteria in Texas and began shooting people. A woman there had permission to carry a gun, but she had left it in the car because of laws restricting her. The woman's parents and 21 other people were shot, and the woman said if she had had her gun, the situation could have been contained, according to a Newsweek article.
"You don't know if the person behind you at the movie theater or the person buying milk in front of you in Wal-Mart is carrying. Campuses are not any different, " Robinson said.
"People who have permits are responsible, mature students, citizens. Do you see a problem carrying in Wal-Mart? There isn't."
In Arkansas, guns also are prohibited in police stations, jails, courthouses, polling places, government buildings, sporting events, bars, schools, airports and churches, according to the state Web site, http://state.ar.us.
But not everybody thinks like Robinson.
"In this issue, there are cons and pros, and I think that there are more cons, " said Lt. Gary Crain, public information officer for the UA Police Department.
Statistics indicate that in Arkansas, there's a small fraction of people who have permission to carry a concealed weapon. The likelihood of one of those people being in the right place at the right time is slim, and allowing guns is just bringing another weapon on campus, Crain said.
This would open the door to people having guns to defend themselves when a theft or a fit of anger occurs.
In 1993, during a student hearing at Weber State University in Ogden, Utah, a student pulled out two loaded pistols and opened fire, injuring three people before a police officer killed him, according to a Jan. 25, 2002, New York Times article.
"Let's say a student goes to see a professor and the student is angry," Crain said. "Is that professor feeling safe? In the resident hall, if you knew someone down the hall had a gun, are you feeling safe if you're having a confrontation with this person?"
In 1991, a man entered Luby's Cafeteria in Texas and began shooting people. A woman there had permission to carry a gun, but she had left it in the car because of laws restricting her. The woman's parents and 21 other people were shot, and the woman said if she had had her gun, the situation could have been contained, according to a Newsweek article.
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 9
David Smith
posted 4/11/08 @ 10:23 AM CST
Statistics indicate that in Arkansas, there's a small fraction of people who---ARE POLICE. The likelihood of one of those people being in the right place at the right time is slim
T.
posted 4/11/08 @ 10:35 AM CST
I have my concealed carry permit, and I don't think this article fairly covers everything that is required to get one. I had to go to a class with a licensed instructor for 8 hours. (Continued…)
Stu Strickler
posted 4/11/08 @ 12:12 PM CST
Concealed carry laws can save lives. Fourty eight states have concealed carry laws. You can carry in most public places, why not a college campus?
While Police do a good job, they are minutes away, when seconds count. (Continued…)
Texas Freeman
posted 4/11/08 @ 3:52 PM CST
Isn't it funny? The university, businesses, federal government, and state governments are all claiming that thier rights are MORE important than thier citizen's and student's rights! The state claims they are disarming the students and citizens to PROTECT them, but then don't protect them. (Continued…)
Woodpiggie
posted 4/12/08 @ 3:10 AM CST
Anticarriers:
Passage of this will not increase the number of guns in society. It will merely add to the number of physical settings in which screened and tested law abiding citizens can keep and bare a significant disinsentive to criminal attack. (Continued…)
Not a trained killer
posted 4/14/08 @ 9:46 AM CST
I'm sorry, but I think this is appalling. I am not willing to kill another individual, even if my life depended on it. What is this? The wild west? I mean, I am not "dogging" anyone who wants to carry a gun, but I just don't want those people in my life, and if the University were to allow concealed weapons on campus, that just makes me think that a lot more people are willing to kill than we think. (Continued…)
pewpew
posted 4/14/08 @ 10:54 PM CST
i always kind of thought anybody willing to man up enough to want to stop a gun wielding maniac doesn't need a gun to do it. this is not about saving lives when seconds count, its about guys stroking their egos. (Continued…)
T.
posted 4/15/08 @ 3:16 PM CST
To "not a trained killer" and "pewpew". I am not overly anxious to have to use my gun, however, if it comes down to me or the other person, then I want to give myself every chance I have to make it home to my husband at the end of the day. (Continued…)
Jerome
posted 1/02/09 @ 12:31 PM CST
This isn't about ego or bragging rights because a person carries a gun. The whole point is to even the playing field. It's already been pointed out that almost all mass shootings take place in gun free zones. (Continued…)
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