Should Students Carry Firearms on Colleges and Universities?
Amanda Collins, a college student of the University of Nevada-Reno, was raped in a parking garage and claims that she would have the ability to defend herself if she was permitted to carry a firearm on campus. I agree with this statement, not only because it was self-defense but colleges around the US do not have officers in every building on campus. According to a personal account of Amanda Collins, it states, “In college eight years ago, I was raped in a parking garage only feet from the campus police office. I could see the police cruisers parked for the night as this stranger raped me, pistol to my head. I knew no one was coming to help me. If the college will not protect me, then I would want to have the ability to protect myself.”
Another reason why firearms should be allowed on campus is that gun-free zones are not functional. These signs won’t stop a potential threat because someone could still walk anywhere with a firearm. If anything, they bring an even bigger target to universities, grocery stores, or recreational centers. For example, the 2019 shooting in El Paso. Walmart is a gun-free zone and filled with soft targets. Now, 22 El Pasoans are no longer with us. Another example would be, “How many bars containing cops have been actively shot?” The answer would be none- cops carry their firearms constantly whether they are on duty or not.
The Founding Fathers created the second amendment to allow the citizens the ability to defend themselves from danger; the people have the right to bear arms for protection. If colleges don’t allow guns, they would be violating the 2nd amendment of the constitution. Colleges should allow students to carry their firearms on campus because we cannot depend on proper authorities every single time. If the college has an armed intruder and they are not there to protect me, I would want to be armed as well so I would have a fighting chance. I commend our officers, but it takes a long time for them to arrive. For example, let’s say there is a shooter in a university. First responders say that they will arrive in ten minutes. Ten minutes does not seem like a long time, but how much damage can a shooter cause in ten minutes? Most of the damage in a shooting happens in the earliest stage because there is no one there to stop them. But if students could carry their concealed weapons on campus, there would be someone there to stop the gunman and protect themselves and the ones around them.
I agree with Amanda Collins. Colleges should allow open carry for their students. Having weapons is not a bad thing, but it depends on whose hands the weapon is in. The weapon should be held by a responsible person who knows how to use it properly.
