Heated debate over packing heat on campus
Chelsea Pendergrass and Erin Sisco
Issue date: 4/17/08 Section: Features
Students at 19 Texas universities and colleges will be toting empty holsters along with book bags to campus next week to demand the right to carry concealed handguns to class following a series of school shootings in recent months.
It is not clear whether any Tarleton State University students will participate in the so-called "Empty Holster Campaign," but opinion among Tarleton students is divided on whether permitting students to pack heat in the classroom would make the campus safer or more dangerous.
"I'm on the fence," said Matt Benegalia, a 21-year-old Tarleton junior from Granbury. "I don't like guns but if someone had one, they could stop the shooter."
Other students are skeptical about whether concealed weapons on campus would deter shooting sprees like the one at Virginia Tech, which happened one year ago Wednesday, or Northern Illinois University.
"Personally, I could never feel safe if there was even a possibility that the person sitting right next to me in class had a gun on them," said Fred Mobley, a Tarleton junior. "License or not, I do not feel safe around guns and am convinced that they are simply dangerous. I think if people were allowed to carry a weapon, events like those at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois have a greater possibility of happening just because it makes it easier to have a weapon on campus."
Protesters include students at three of Tarleton's sister schools: Texas A&M University, TAMU-Corpus Christi and West Texas A&M. They are part of a nationwide demonstration sponsored by Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, or SCCC. The protest involves an estimated 25,000 college students on some 200 campuses.
Founded in the wake of the Virginia Tech massacre, SCCC protests aim "to educate the public about the facts of concealed carry" and "push legislatures and school administrators to grant concealed handgun license holders the same right-the right to carry concealed handguns-on college campuses that these license holders currently enjoy at most other places," according to the organization's Web site.
It is not clear whether any Tarleton State University students will participate in the so-called "Empty Holster Campaign," but opinion among Tarleton students is divided on whether permitting students to pack heat in the classroom would make the campus safer or more dangerous.
"I'm on the fence," said Matt Benegalia, a 21-year-old Tarleton junior from Granbury. "I don't like guns but if someone had one, they could stop the shooter."
Other students are skeptical about whether concealed weapons on campus would deter shooting sprees like the one at Virginia Tech, which happened one year ago Wednesday, or Northern Illinois University.
"Personally, I could never feel safe if there was even a possibility that the person sitting right next to me in class had a gun on them," said Fred Mobley, a Tarleton junior. "License or not, I do not feel safe around guns and am convinced that they are simply dangerous. I think if people were allowed to carry a weapon, events like those at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois have a greater possibility of happening just because it makes it easier to have a weapon on campus."
Protesters include students at three of Tarleton's sister schools: Texas A&M University, TAMU-Corpus Christi and West Texas A&M. They are part of a nationwide demonstration sponsored by Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, or SCCC. The protest involves an estimated 25,000 college students on some 200 campuses.
Founded in the wake of the Virginia Tech massacre, SCCC protests aim "to educate the public about the facts of concealed carry" and "push legislatures and school administrators to grant concealed handgun license holders the same right-the right to carry concealed handguns-on college campuses that these license holders currently enjoy at most other places," according to the organization's Web site.
Viewing Comments 1 - 7 of 7
Chester Leeds '05
posted 4/17/08 @ 1:58 PM CST
If a student is a CHL holder the person next to them in class will never know if they are carrying concealed or not..... by definition and law the weapon must be "concealed". (Continued…)
TOPSY KRETT
posted 4/22/08 @ 12:28 PM CST
Handguns are an absolute necessity, espicially in todays society. I'm in total agreement with ol' chester in that a CHL holder by law has to keep his side arm concealed. (Continued…)
Rachelle White 08
posted 8/21/08 @ 9:34 AM CST
I think i sould share a pieceof information with you people, people who carry guns typically tend to get shot more than those who don't. Hello! Wake up and smell the java people. (Continued…)
Greg Dome
posted 9/06/08 @ 8:53 AM CST
Maybe Krett and White should talk to the victims who died at Virginia Tech and asked them if they feel better now that no one was armed to stop the shooter? It was citizens, not police, who initially slowed down Whitman at the Texas Tower in '66. (Continued…)
KE5LDO
Greg Dome
posted 9/06/08 @ 8:58 AM CST
Maybe Krett and White should talk to the victims who died at Virginia Tech and asked them if they feel better now that no one was armed to stop the shooter? It was citizens, not police, who initially slowed down Whitman at the Texas Tower in '66. (Continued…)
Lindsey
posted 9/28/08 @ 9:59 PM CST
People are saying that they want to carry handguns to feel safe, but who is to say that that very same person that wants to protect his or herself couldn't just open fire? Regardless of a gun license or not it wouldn't stop some crazy wanting to bring a gun to class. (Continued…)
Greg Dome
posted 9/28/08 @ 10:09 PM CST
Lindsey, I'm glad you are signing up to be a victim...
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