More on the Guns on Campus Debate

from an op-ed in The Statesman by Aaron Abel

I wish humanity had never created nuclear weapons. But we did, and despite their horrific nature, we can’t get rid of them. As long as there are those in this world willing and able to obtain and use them for purposes of evil, we can never destroy our greatest weapons without surrendering to evil altogether.

By this same logic, it follows that we cannot disarm our own people and leave them defenseless to the moral traitors in our midst. Thankfully, we are a country with great liberties like those granted by our constitution’s second amendment. Consequently, I am allowed to obtain a permit to carry a handgun for my own protection. I can take it with me almost anywhere I go on a daily basis, just not where I happen to be most of the time, on ISU’s campus.

This is a perfect example of a simplistic argument which doesn't even make sense.  The gun-rights advocates repeat it over and over again as if it does.  They call it  the "you can't put the genie back in the bottle" argument.  They think it's cute.

The only problem is no one is wishing guns had never been created. No one wants to disarm everyone.  No one wants to take their guns away.

In his close-minded way, Mr. Abel goes on to completely disparage the following sensible observation.

The USA Today staff argued, “More guns on campus—places where binge drinking, drug taking and immature judgment are common—will undoubtedly cost more lives than they save.”

The USA Today staff goes on to argue that assuming everyone with a concealed gun permit is well trained is a recipe for disaster, citing the nine bystanders shot by NYPD during the Empire State Building shooting this summer.

Basically he says armed civilians with concealed carry permits are better trained and more responsible than cops. Now that's a self-serving argument which is more wishful thinking than anything else.  Just think about it for a minute.  Police officers have a basic training to undergo in the beginning of their careers and often mandatory follow-up training.  Civilians have none of that. In some states they literally have no requirements to carry concealed. How could they possibly be better equipped to handle guns than the cops?

The simple fact is that where there are more guns there is more gun violence. Sometimes that violence takes subtle forms, for example, imagine an aggressive and armed student angry over his grade on a term paper.  In confronting the offending professor he lets it be known that he's carrying.  Does anyone think this kind of interpersonal dynamic will improve the university environment and  increase higher learning?

No, the prohibition of guns on college campuses is a sensible and reasonable restriction on general gun rights. The proof is that even in some of the most gun-friendly states it is the policy. In fact only six states allow it and that's after years of non-interference by the government in the expanding gun-rights situation.

What's your opinion?  Please leave a comment.