People should be allowed to carry concealed handguns on college campuses, but not for the reason you might think.
Some people think it’s a good idea because it will cut down on campus violence, like that perpetrated by Cho Seung-Hui at the Virginia Tech campus on April 16, 2007.
We disagree with that position. But we think that if concealed handguns are allowed in our state, there is no reason why they can’t be on college campuses.
Del. Robert G. “Bob” Marshall, R-13th District and Del. Todd Gilbert, R-15th District, are holding a press conference Monday to discuss their failed bills that would have allowed concealed handguns on campuses.
Basically, people who have a valid Virginia Concealed Carry Permit would have been allowed to carry a weapon with them on college property if these bills had passed.
If the state allows people to obtain and keep concealed handguns, then why not allow them on campus?
The people who would have such a permit would, ostensibly, have been vetted to ensure that they are stable enough to have one.
If the state thinks someone has the mental and emotional faculties to keep a concealed gun when out in the community, then there should be no problem allowing that person to carry a gun with them to college.
Sure, it could be argued that college campuses are rife with immature minds, substance abuse and people who have a proclivity to impulsiveness, but that should have no bearing on this discussion. And there are plenty of those folks in the general population as well.
The same people who shouldn’t have a concealed gun on campus, shouldn’t have one off campus. So, as long as the state finds somebody competent enough to have one, there should be no problem with these failed bills.
As we said, we doubt that increasing the number of concealed weapons on college campuses will stop campus violence. But we doubt it will contribute to campus violence either. If responsible gun owners want to secretly carry their guns with them to class. Let them.
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