Should guns be allowed on college campuses?

Question

If concealed guns were allowed at Virginia Tech (they are forbidden) --Do you think that psycho would have gotten as many victims?

to the people tired of the topic, Why read and/or answer questions about it? This is for people interested in discussing and debating the Q I asked.

To the rest who took the time to ANSWER the Q's I asked-- thank you. I don't necessarily think that kids should have had the right to have guns on campus--but, it is hard to NOT think about what would have happened, if they were packing.

I don't like guns, in fact- I hate them.. but, I do realize that right now most guns are in the hands of criminals--NOT citizens with a permit. Which is VERY scary, and how do you stop someone on a rampage w/o being "strapped"?

The world works in mysterious ways, and I accept those kids are gone and won't be coming back- just curious how we can prevent this things in the future-but I know it is virtually impossible.

One last thought--Seriously, WHY POST on a QUESTION you are sick of and tell others NOT to discuss it anymore? Don't like the topic--read elsewhere!

Have a great day :)

Answer 1

One legally carried concealed weapon by faculty or staff could have altered the death toll dramatically at VT by making Cho go toes up before he started the second shooting spree.

Answer 2

So a 21 year old construction worker can carry a handgun around all day with no problem from you, but the 21 year old engineering student can't? In most states, you need to be 21 before you can legally carry a handgun. That's the last year or two for the "standard" college student. It's not like you'll have someone fresh out of high school carrying an AK slung across his back. "I can see it now, a student gets into a fight with an enemy, the student pulls out the gun... Seriously do you really want that scenario in colleges." How's that any different than the 21 year old construction worker pulling a gun to defend himself (aside from location)? EDIT: Hey Go Wing's, what's stopping the crazy guy from carrying a gun now? Having a "gun free zone" doesn't stop people from carrying guns in. It just stops people from legally carrying guns in. That means anyone who would have been protecting you is now defenseless on the floor beside you instead of shooting back at the nut with a gun.

Answer 3

No. I forget the details but about a year ago campus police shot a man on a WI campus. Until then I did not know those security guards were cops or armed. But maybe he avoided the Wi version of the V Tech shootings. If you want to look I think it was in Oshkosh. I don't remember the details because from what I heard on the news most people would have shot him. If the students could carry guns, rapists and muggers would think twice as well as spree shooters.

Answer 4

As a gun owner for almost 20 years I have only had to defend My self with one once and no I did not have to kill any one for that I am very grateful, but I am far more grateful that I had it..

God only knows what would have happened if I did not. If you think adding laws to the books will help you are just being foolish, Since when did a law stop the lawless? All it would do is hinder the law abiding. And it is not about hunting as I do not hunt, it is not about need..

Do women need to have a need not to be beaten by a abusive spouse or raped by a stranger? No that is preposterous. I do not need to have a need it is My right and there is not even a debate about it, And would he have killed as many with a axe most likely not. But by the same token he would not have killed as many if some of the teachers was allowed to keep firearms in class.

And drunk drivers kill far more than lunatics ever did.. Is that illegal? Yes Why dose that law not stop that? Because laws do not stop the lawless...

Answer 5

No. This would kill A LOT more people than it would save. Why?

a) 50% of college students suffer from mental health problems at some stage of their study. College is a very stressful time for many.

b) Drug and alcohol abuse is widespread.

c) Irresponsible and reckless behaviour is part of college culture.

d) It's a crowded environment, so if a gun goes off accidentally, it's more likely to kill someone. That's why soldiers are not allowed to take their guns into the barracks.

The number of suicide victims alone would far exceed the 30 people killed every 5 years there is a school shooting. Events like this are tragic, but statistically EXTREMELY RARE.

I have three friends who tried to kill themselves in college, who lead normal and successful lives today. If they had owned guns, they would probably not be alive today.

Also, most parents would not feel comfortable about it.

Answer 6

yes, I think guns should be allowed to defend yourself and the college needs to have really strict gun control. I don't think that people should have them loaded at school and that the people who do carry the guns should be taught the responsible way to carry and use a gun. I think the college should be able to decide who can bring the gun into the college. The college should be able to ban anyone from carrying there gun on campus if they suspect that they have a mental illness or a danger to others, for any reason.

But whose to say if the psycho would have gotten as many victims as he did.

Answer 7

It should (and might) depend on the college's own policy. I would have to say that campuses would probably be more dangerous with guns. The Virginia Tech shooting and rampages like it aren't all that common, and allowing moody college students to carry guns at school may cause more danger than it would prevent. As funny as it sounds, teachers wouldn't be bad off with guns as long as they don't abuse them

Answer 8

Even in the hands of trained professionals, weapons often miss their targets. What makes us believe that a college student with a concealed handgun would have the ability to act appropriate under the stress of being fired upon? Even police officers miss their targets when being shot at.

Everyone seems to think that arming the populace is the answer to such tragedies as Virgina Tech and I understand the "make my day" attitude of many Americans. However, without the proper training, a handgun is nothing more than an added endangerment to an already dangerous situation. Wouldn't it be better to have better security services? Wouldn't it be better to have a society that emphasizes an acceptance of mental health care? Wouldn't it be better to emphasize tolerance, equality and acceptance rather than putting weapons into the hands of people whose reality is defined for them by television, video games and films?

Perhaps Cho was inevitable. Perhaps if our society could have put him under supervised care when his disturbed vision of reality became apparent this tragedy would never have happened. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps. At least those ideas won't put more weapons into a society that already values violence much to highly.

Answer 9

No guns do not belong on school grounds , most college age kids are not experienced in real life , most of them do not know how to handle things like the word "no" or have the ability to handle rejection , it was said a few months ago that todays college age youth are the most self centered generation in history , they have not graduated college , but they think they deserve the big house , the fine cars , , this generation has also been called the biggest group of spoiled rotten people in history , the last thing a big ego needs at a frat house party needs is a gun ....I am not saying all kids in college , this is in general .
What we need to do is get people in local ,and State office that have a backbone ,and a big pair of steel ones , and solve the biggest issue ...why has it gotten to the point that we even think of arming kids to go to school including colleges , why are we even thinking about arming teachers , and faculty ...I am not real big on religion , but if you look at the facts things went downhill with schools when they kicked GOD out of school ....so do not ask GOD why did this happen , why did He not protect the students ...remember We as a nation decided it was time to cater to everyone , so when Madeline Murray O'Hare said Kick GOD out of schools we did ...we are even kicking God out of society , but yet we blame GOD for all the bad things in life ...We need to find out why guns are going to schools ( bad parents) Why the parents allowed their child who they knew was mental , to live at school unsupervised , I blame the Parents First . they can cry he fell through the cracks , the truth is there is no excuse for failing a child , If parents were held accountable for their childs actions even as an adult , alot of this mess would stop . do not tell me well they have no control over the child after he is grown , bullsh*t they raised him they are the ones who guided him through life.. had they done a better job , lives would not have been lost at the hands of what they raised .. NOTHING HAS more influence over a persons life than the life he is given at home , not TV , video games NOTHING >>>>it is MOM and DAD FAILING THEIR CHILDREN ...We always look for an excuse for bad behavior , why not look at the root of the problem ...Bad Parents

Answer 10

I think a better question would be why are not allowed to check mental health records for someone who wishes to purchase a firearm? We check criminal records and honestly i would be more comfortable selling a gun to a felon before i would someone with a history of mental problems if i had to sell it to either at all.