Argumentative Essay: Should Students Have Guns On Campus?

“Campus Carry” as known by Georgia Southern University, should reduce its limits on where a person with a legal license to carry, should be able to have their weapon on campus. “Campus Carry” has restrictions on which building and places a person can and cannot carry a weapon on campus. Reducing the limits on where someone can carry a gun on campus can give the students a safer feel on campus knowing that they have safety in their classrooms. Students would be safer on campus knowing that someone can have a weapon in the classroom with them. That could also make students nervous, but not allowing legal licensed people to have a concealed weapon if dangerous.

According to Kenzie Kesselring, allowing guns on college campuses is a horrible idea. Not only is dangerous to college students’ well-being, but it also threatens the institution of collegiate learning altogether (Stroud, K.). Moreover, open gun carry can make students fearful for their safety; they will no longer be comfortable debating or being themselves. Some students might even be distracted knowing that at any moment someone in their classroom could be legally carrying a gun. Would you feel safe sitting next to somebody who holds a gun?

Currently, seventeen states ban the conceal and carry of weapons on campus; twenty four states leave the the decisions in the hands of colleges; eight states have special provisions that allow for the carrying of concealed firearms, and only one state has no jurisdiction over this issue. The threat of mass shooting on college campuses should not be overlooked; however, allowing firearms on campuses endangers the very issue gun advocates are trying to

Also, students are legally allowed to be armed and able to defend themselves and others in public and at home, so it makes sense that they should be able to defend themselves at college. The United States has millions of guns and most people who own guns and carry them are law-abiding citizens, like you and I. In addition to holstering a gun a person has to be licensed by the state of residence, so students will have training and knowledge of firearms and their power. In contrast, there are some people who strongly oppose campus carry; they believe that students having guns will increase campus violence and shootings, however, this is not the case. There is plenty of evidence, from creditable sources, that show that more guns there are, the less violence there is.

In fact, the prospect of guns in the classroom is more likely to cause professors to keep the conversation tepid and avoid certain controversies; everyone else will watch what they say, how they say it and to whom. This would be quite the opposite of the open and transformative exchange that universities have made it their mission to offer. There is a further point. As we saw in the aftermath of the Ferguson and Staten Island police incidents, and earlier with the Occupy Wall Street movement, university campuses are places where political protest takes root. Perhaps colleges are not quite the haven for political protest that they once were -- like, say, in the 1960 's. But universities have traditionally been places where students practice protest -- where they practice articulating and voicing political concern, and engaging in productive, demonstrative assembly.

At the University of Northern Arizona in October of 2015 Steven Jones came to school and shot four students and killed one. He was charged with first degree murder. Now imagine you were a student at that school wouldn't you want a student or teacher to be able to stop the shooter before it got this far? College Students in the United States should be aloud to conceal carry on campus. Concealed weapons on campus would help protect colleges in the U.S. by having armed students and staff on campus.

Students today live their day-to-day lives in constant fear of what seems inevitable. The United States has one of the highests rates of school shootings in the world. Society has become so desensitized to these shootings that they are no longer shocked to hear about another school falling victim to it. Even when students take a stand against gun violence, the only solution offered to them is a proposition to arm teachers. However, bringing more guns into a school will only further deteriorate the situation.

For the most part that is true, however most students that take the time to go get a permit to carry a handgun are more responsible than those who like to party and act out. In addition, the state laws prohibit the carry of a firearm if they are under the influence. The job of protecting campuses should be left to professionals some might say, however if an attacker walks into a classroom and there is only one way in and out by the time the cops get there it will more than likely be too late. That is another reason concealed carry should be allowed on campus.

(Smith, T.N. 2012) The students and staff while on campus who are protecting themselves or another should not be subject to arrest or be punished for a crime. Students need to properly educate the public on the benefits of carrying guns on the campus. By states not allowing guns on campus it is making a target for the shootings. Research says there are more rapes, assaults, and robberies than killings.

The issue with incorporating more guns in a school campus is a terrifying idea and in most issues, can backfire. A victim from the school shooting in Forida stated, “I understand what it's like to fear for your life.” , students shouldn't have to fear their own school. Many students are against gun violence and are having walkouts and protests, they want their voice to be heard and want to see a change in schools. Many students from across South Florida supported the Stoneman Douglas High students by walking out of their classrooms.

According to Armed Capuses.org, “The overwhelming majority of the 4,400 colleges and universities in the United States prohibit the carrying of firearms on their campuses”. The controversy that surrounds the concealed carry on college campuses vary from negative comments to positive comments. The focus should not be would weapons make people feel uncomfortable like most articles are introducing. The main focus

As handguns become more accessible to a larger variety of persons within a limited area the rates will rise due to availability (Everytown for Gun Safety Support Fund, 2013). Overall guns on campuses will result in the cons heavily outweighing the pros. There are more efficient ways to keep students safe than allowing concealed handguns on college campuses. Allowing firearms will escalate sparse occurrences of school shootings. Suicidal deaths among the student population will also increase as more than half of all college students already consider suicide, the presence of a firearm will only increase the risk more (Neuberger, Joan and Spiro, Ellen, 2015).

Why Not Conceal Carry? On April 16, 2007, 32 people were murdered and another 23 were wounded, either by Seung-Hui Cho, the man doing the killing, or by jumping out of windows to escape him. That day Seung-Hui Cho used a Glock 19 and a Walther P22 to commit the second deadliest shootout in US history. While many people, like Josh Sugarmann and his Concealed Carry Killers report would have one believe that allowing people to conceal carry on campus would of made things worse, but I believe just the opposite.

Allowing firearms on campus would lead to an escalation in violent crime. For example, an argument among students on campus may escalate quickly

To begin with, we are living in one of the most violent time in the last decade. There has been more mass shooting in schools and colleges than ever before. Government can not seem to find a solution for this mass shooting. This brings us to the main topic of whether or not we should allow guns in college campus. There might be some benefit of carrying guns in college such as making the shooter afraid and prevent a mass shooting.