Our View
Concealed carry law may carry consequences
The Herald editorial Staff
Issue date: 1/26/09 Section: Opinion
The carrying of guns has gotten a lot of talk in Arkansas. Two pieces of legislation are bringing guns into debate. One involves lifting the ban on open carry of weapons in Arkansas and the other involves allowing guns on college campuses in the state.
Rep. Randy Stewart has proposed a bill that would allow licensed individuals to carry concealed weapons on college campuses provided those weapons are secured in their vehicles in the parking lot.
There are several reasons to take issue with this bill.
For one thing, what good is a gun in your car going to do you if you are in the library or the Student Union?
Besides if some sort of incident were to occur, guns on campus could just aggravate the problem. Someone with a gun in their car may decide to be a hero, but wind up creating more problems, for themselves, their peers and law enforcement officials.
In the event of a problem, call police officials and let them handle it. That is why they are here.
Another problem with allowing guns on campus in vehicles is that cars get broken into. One smashed window and whoever will can take what they find and run.
Then it isn't the licensed individual with the gun, it's some maniac who breaks into cars and steals stuff.
Also should an argument or disagreement occur, an available and accessible gun entered into the equation may lead to an escalation of violence. A person may react with bullets rather than words or even fists.
Concealed carry weapons by licensed individuals are restricted from many places. Jails, courthouses, state offices, churches and other places of worship, police stations, polling places and more. College campuses are another place that should stay that way.
Rep. Randy Stewart has proposed a bill that would allow licensed individuals to carry concealed weapons on college campuses provided those weapons are secured in their vehicles in the parking lot.
There are several reasons to take issue with this bill.
For one thing, what good is a gun in your car going to do you if you are in the library or the Student Union?
Besides if some sort of incident were to occur, guns on campus could just aggravate the problem. Someone with a gun in their car may decide to be a hero, but wind up creating more problems, for themselves, their peers and law enforcement officials.
In the event of a problem, call police officials and let them handle it. That is why they are here.
Another problem with allowing guns on campus in vehicles is that cars get broken into. One smashed window and whoever will can take what they find and run.
Then it isn't the licensed individual with the gun, it's some maniac who breaks into cars and steals stuff.
Also should an argument or disagreement occur, an available and accessible gun entered into the equation may lead to an escalation of violence. A person may react with bullets rather than words or even fists.
Concealed carry weapons by licensed individuals are restricted from many places. Jails, courthouses, state offices, churches and other places of worship, police stations, polling places and more. College campuses are another place that should stay that way.
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Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 18
Mike Stollenwerk
posted 1/26/09 @ 1:16 PM CST
regardless of whether you support carry on campus, all college students 18 and over should support open carry rights generally, somthing that in most states requires no license to do at age 18 and up. (Continued…)
mrengles
posted 1/26/09 @ 1:39 PM CST
When seconds count the police will be there in minutes!
What good is a gun in your car going to do you if you are in the library or the Student Union?
When your leaving and a rapist is following you to the car, the gun in the glove box can be used to protect your self. (Continued…)
Carl in Chicago
posted 1/26/09 @ 2:56 PM CST
Editors:
Your point about what good is a gun in the car is well-taken.
However, you have no evidence to assert that guns aggravate problems, that auto break-ins will increase, or that carriers are hot-tempered and problematic. (Continued…)
deadeyedick
posted 1/26/09 @ 2:56 PM CST
The author's arguments are naive and childlike; to refute it point by point...
"For one thing, what good is a gun in your car going to do you if you are in the library or the Student Union?"
And conversely, what harm could it do? The proposed legislation is not about allowing concealed carry on campus, it it about letting a licensee store a firearm in his or her vehicle while on campus. (Continued…)
Timhuett
Tim Huett
posted 1/26/09 @ 3:48 PM CST
This is to whoever wrote the article. Have you researched any of your claims and can you back them with facts? I doubt it, as if you did you would know the following:
The State of Utah has allowed licensed firearm carriers to carry their weapons on campus for the past 17 years. (Continued…)
Walt
posted 1/26/09 @ 4:38 PM CST
"In the event of a problem, call police officials and let them handle it. That is why they are here." If you recall, the police WERE called during the Virginia Tech attack. (Continued…)
teter09
posted 1/26/09 @ 5:52 PM CST
I don't understand this fundamental point of seemingly almost all people who call for 'gun free zones'....
While you can make it illegal to carry, how does this prevent a person willing to commit a crime from carrying in that zone?
Outlawing carrying of a concealed weapon by licensed citizen is simply taking away a means of defense to someone who has already gone through a screening process to determine if they can be trusted. (Continued…)
Daniel Tapio
posted 1/26/09 @ 8:35 PM CST
First you say, "For one thing, what good is a gun in your car going to do you if you are in the library or the Student Union?" Then you say, "Also should an argument or disagreement occur, an available and accessible gun entered into the equation may lead to an escalation of violence. (Continued…)
RDS in Conway
posted 1/26/09 @ 9:00 PM CST
You are worryful and dumb. If you are going to CCW a gun to college you aren't going to leave it in the car to be stolen. The individual would CARRY it with them. (Continued…)
Tex Tucker
posted 1/27/09 @ 4:40 AM CST
Wow, I hear the "Hero" comment a lot from pasty skinned journalists that lack the intestinal fortitude to fight themselves out of a wet paper sack.
Define Hero: One who steps up to do the right thing when that thing needs done. (Continued…)
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