National Grass-Roots Effort Demands Concealed Carry for Safer Schools.

“A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

The Second Amendment of the United States Constitution could agreeably be the most debated amendment of the entire document. Does the right to bear arms belong solely to a well regulated Militia or individual citizens? The battle lines have been clearly drawn all across America.

Since it was first ratified in 1791, the U.S. Supreme Court has not tread in Second Amendment waters since 1931 but this summer the Justices might finally be forced into interpreting the amendment and it could not have come during more turbulent times.

Last year, 32 students and members of staff at Virginia Tech were shot and killed. The shootings sent shockwaves across the country and as a result security was heightened at college campuses throughout. Since, not only have university administrators taken action but students have as well.

CNN reports that a national grass-roots effort of over 28,663 members called Students for Concealed Carry on Campus is demanding that 21-year-old licensed, gun owning students be given the right to carry concealed weapons on campus based on the belief that if a threat arose they could defend themselves and their classmates.

“Would you rather just sit there and cower underneath a desk when someone executes you or would you rather have a chance to defend your life?” Group leader and University of Cincinnati student, Michael Flitcraft, told CNN.

But are more guns on campus really the answer to a safer college? Major Joe Grant of Public Safety does not think so.

“This is a catch 22 question, you have a situation like Virginia Tech and had there been some students that had concealed carry permits they might have stopped that situation before it escalated.”

Grant, an avid hunter and strong supporter of the Second Amendment, says that in the event of a similar situation on Georgia College’s campus the allowance of concealed weapons could cause more turmoil than less.

“Say we get notified that we’ve got an active shooter on campus and now two or three students who have concealed carry permits are involved and everybody’s running around chasing each other, how do I know the good person from the bad person?” Grant said.

 “If I see a student with a gun and I don’t know if he’s causing the turmoil or trying to put an end to it and I say halt, he turns and he’s got that gun I’m going to have to do what I’ve been trained to do.” Grant said. “It means innocent people getting hurt. They’re not going to have “good guy” printed on the back of their shirt. We just wouldn’t know.”

USA Today reports that 12 states, including Georgia, are currently considering legislation to overturn university policies prohibiting guns on campus.

While it is currently a felony in Georgia to carry a weapon within 1,000 feet of a university, could Georgia College students be seeing guns in classrooms and hallways as soon as next Spring?

 “Time will have to tell, Grant said. “Even if they [Georgia legislature] allow concealed carry permits for students, the school should have some say, including the professors.”  

While the movement for concealed carry has not yet reached GCSU, the idea is not only unpopular among Public Safety officials but among Georgia College students as well.

Danielle Thomas, a junior who has grown up around guns her entire life, was not very enthusiastic.

 “I don’t fully agree with the concept. I think yes 21 year olds with permits should be allowed to carry but I still think there should be limits as to where,” she said.

Junior Tony Griffin is in favor of allowing concealed weapons on campus but also believes certain restrictions should apply.

“I am all for allowing people to carry concealed weapons on college campuses as long as they have a carrying permit,” Griffin said. “This is the problem in Georgia though… anyone 21 and older who is not a felon can get a carrying license.”

Major Grant says that if Georgia legislation overturns concealed carry policies on campuses, students and faculty should expect an atmosphere resembling that of the “Old West.”

“If you’re 21 and you can have a gun anywhere you want 24 hours a day, seven days a week I think we’re looking at more instances to happen with guns than less.”

Posted by Colonnade Archives on Apr 25 2008. Filed under News. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry