“CAMPUS CARRY MESSAGE,” read the title of the only unread email in my inbox. It was Friday, July 29, the weekend before the official start of Campus Carry.
As a supporter of the Second Amendment, I think it’s important for American citizens to have to have the right to bear arms if they so choose. However, there’s a time and place for everything, especially guns, and state universities are not it. I realize that most if not all, of Concealed Handgun License holders are well trained and versed with their firearm, but with hundreds of students concentrated in a small area, in the event of an emergency, could anyone really know what’s going on? With people running in all directions and various people with their arm drawn, could a situation be contained before greater damage is done?
I first started thinking about the topic when a student in my class asked our professor what she thought about the new law. She chose not to answer, of course, but it started a class discussion that would end up taking up the last 10 minutes of class. As expected, most students were opposed to it, with some not even having seen a gun before, much less shot one. Most brought up the previously mentioned theory, but among the reasons for opposing the law were the students who believed that a disgruntled student could one day show up with his or her gun and be willing to hurt the professor or others around them. I can understand the point of view and see how it can be concerning. I mean I’d be a little scared too if I knew that potentially any number of students could be armed at any point in time. But could an ‘F’ on an exam really lead to that?
In addition to that one of the students brought up the idea that what if a fight took place? Would one of the students involved really allow for a conflict to escalate to the point where guns are drawn? During my time at Texas State, I’m yet to see a fight break out. That doesn’t mean it isn’t taking place, but if it is, how often is it really happening? It’s hard to believe that something like that would really happen, but you never know. If it did, however, would the possession of a gun actually help the situation? It’s hard to know, but hopefully, it’s something that never has to be determined.
Regardless of whether students agree with the law or not, it was passed and is now officially enacted. Rules were set by universities across the state to prevent guns from designated areas and to set the guidelines that must be followed to stay within the letter of the law. With the fall semester only weeks away it’ll be interesting to see reactions coming in from across the state and how students will be impacted because of it. A number of professors have decided to leave their job and move elsewhere for their own safety and students in Austin have escalated their protest by carrying sex toys on campus. Opinions vary across the board and no one will ever fully agree. But let’s keep our fingers crossed and hope that our place of study will never be the victim of the next tragedy.
