Spring Break
Please, no guns on campus.
STEPHEN HELEKER
Opinion Writer
Issue date: 2/14/08 Section: Opinion
This morning the Idaho Senate State Affair Committee considered a bill that would preclude Idaho schools from banning concealed weapons. The bill was sent back to its drafters due to many technicality issues. However, there is a strong intent by interest groups that leads me to believe that this bill (or others like it) will again go before the Idaho Legislature. If the measures in this bill were passed, then neither the Idaho board of education, individual college boards or presidents would be able to declare campuses to be gun-free zones.
Of course, this bill was prompted by campus shootings, specifically the Virginia Tech massacre. While I sympathize with the authors of the bill (several undergraduate students from the University of Idaho), I cannot agree with the idea that more guns will cause less violence. This proposed bill and others like it is simply the product of bad ideas forged from good intentions.
One flaw in the line of thinking that produces this type of measure is that it is based on the emotion that comes from events like the Virginia Tech shooting. While America is the world leader in handgun violence, the truth is that most shootings on school campuses are personal, with only one or two victims. Naturally, these events rarely make the news in the way that group shootings do. For example, early in February a woman at Louisiana Tech shot two other students and then herself. In situations like these, armed citizens really are unable to react quickly enough. Even a solider or policemen could likely do nothing except perhaps shoot the killer after she shot the two victims.
While concealed weapons being allowed on campus could potentially lower the victim count of mass shootings, it is never a sure thing. Craig Hemmens, a criminal justice professor and Boise State University conduct officer, finds it hard to believe that the presence of concealed weapons on campus will actually deter psychotic killers like the young man at Virginia Tech. Concerning this bill he asserted that lawmakers make the mistake of relating to the shooters and believing that "they think like us." A high majority of shooters commit suicide or plan on dying. These mentally ill individuals will almost certainly not be persuaded not to commit their crimes, they may simply become more careful about their work.
Of course, this bill was prompted by campus shootings, specifically the Virginia Tech massacre. While I sympathize with the authors of the bill (several undergraduate students from the University of Idaho), I cannot agree with the idea that more guns will cause less violence. This proposed bill and others like it is simply the product of bad ideas forged from good intentions.
One flaw in the line of thinking that produces this type of measure is that it is based on the emotion that comes from events like the Virginia Tech shooting. While America is the world leader in handgun violence, the truth is that most shootings on school campuses are personal, with only one or two victims. Naturally, these events rarely make the news in the way that group shootings do. For example, early in February a woman at Louisiana Tech shot two other students and then herself. In situations like these, armed citizens really are unable to react quickly enough. Even a solider or policemen could likely do nothing except perhaps shoot the killer after she shot the two victims.
While concealed weapons being allowed on campus could potentially lower the victim count of mass shootings, it is never a sure thing. Craig Hemmens, a criminal justice professor and Boise State University conduct officer, finds it hard to believe that the presence of concealed weapons on campus will actually deter psychotic killers like the young man at Virginia Tech. Concerning this bill he asserted that lawmakers make the mistake of relating to the shooters and believing that "they think like us." A high majority of shooters commit suicide or plan on dying. These mentally ill individuals will almost certainly not be persuaded not to commit their crimes, they may simply become more careful about their work.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 46
Greg
posted 2/14/08 @ 8:22 AM MST
Please, no guns on campus: Response
STEPHEN HELEKER
Mr. Heleker I understand your opion- but that just it- it's your opion and not the opion of many who don't think like you and want to be able to defend themselves from people who definately would do harm to others! Having the ability to defend ones self is a basic right. (Continued…)
Editor
posted 2/14/08 @ 9:15 AM MST
The shooting in Louisiana that took place earlier this month occurred at Louisiana Technical College, a vo-tech school in Baton Rouge, La. THERE WAS NO SHOOTING at Louisiana Tech University, a conference-mate of BSU, located in Ruston, La. (Continued…)
Scion
posted 2/14/08 @ 10:31 AM MST
"I cannot agree with the idea that more guns will cause less violence."
-Your agreement is not required for truth to be true.
"If the measures in this bill were passed, then neither the Idaho board of education, individual college boards or presidents would be able to declare campuses to be gun-free zones. (Continued…)
Scion
posted 2/14/08 @ 10:40 AM MST
One last thing:
Are you aware that the state of Utah has allowed campus carry for years, and has yet to have a single drunken shootout in the dorms? They also have yet to have a single VT-like incident. (Continued…)
Larson
posted 2/14/08 @ 7:13 PM MST
Since Australia banned guns in 1996, their violent crimes have gone through the roof. The following is from: http://www.worldnetdaily.com/news/article. (Continued…)
Scion
posted 2/14/08 @ 8:52 PM MST
"Gunman opens fire on students at Northern Illinois University
The shooter that left at multiple students injured at Northern Illinois University this afternoon was reported dead by suicide at about 4 p. (Continued…)
davidanthony
David Erin Anthony
posted 2/15/08 @ 8:58 AM MST
I was waiting for this argument to arise in the wake of these events. I am as disheartened and bewildered as many of you are.
The echoes of Columbine are being heard across college campuses everywhere. (Continued…)
Clayton E. Cramer
posted 2/15/08 @ 11:46 AM MST
"Craig Hemmens, a criminal justice professor and Boise State University conduct officer, finds it hard to believe that the presence of concealed weapons on campus will actually deter psychotic killers like the young man at Virginia Tech. (Continued…)
Stan Blau
posted 2/15/08 @ 1:18 PM MST
Gun Free Zone message to wackos and killers.
"For your safety and convenience, all decent people have been disarmed."
Homer
posted 2/15/08 @ 1:35 PM MST
You have to be kidding. You admitted the possibility that someone might be able to stem the extended violence in a campus mass killing. Then you point out that guns in the hands of students or faculty is still a bad idea. (Continued…)
Post a Comment