In April 1999, two high school boys went on a shooting spree at Columbine High School. Before the crazed friends turned their guns on themselves, they had killed 13 people and injured at least 20.
Eight years later, a gunman massacred 32 students and faculty of Virginia Tech University before turning the gun on himself.
In 2012, the nation stood still as the news told of a mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School. Twenty children and six adults lost their lives to a crazed gunman.
Of course, these mass shootings were not the only shootings during those years to plaque the country. The Huffington Post stated that from 2012 to 2015, “there have been at least 1,044 mass shootings, 1,327 fatalities, and 3,784 wounded victims.”
Those numbers are terrifying, which is exactly why something needs to be done. On February 22, the Georgia House of Representatives voted to legalize conceal carry on college campuses.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution states that the bill, HB 859, “would allow anyone 21 or older with a weapons license to carry a gun anywhere on a public college or university campus, except for inside dormitories, fraternities and sorority houses, and at athletic events.”
In order to purchase a rifle or shotgun, a buyer in Georgia must be 18 years old. In order to purchase a handgun, the buyer must be at least 21. Upon purchasing a firearm, citizens must meet certain criteria and go through a thorough background check.
My boyfriend and freshman history education major, Cameron Clay, works at a gun shop and has to contact the FBI himself to administer these background checks.
“[The customers] give me their addresses, license(s) (mostly driver’s or concealed carry), name, date of birth and place of birth,” Clay said. “Then they answer 15 questions that give them every chance to admit they cannot buy a firearm.”
Clay then proceeds to contact the FBI and file for a background check. I have been there when he goes through this process and it is absolutely tedious and thorough.
Georgia’s Board of Regents has long opposed campus carry, as does the University System of Georgia. This bill would allow us to protect ourselves in a way we haven’t been able to before.
“This bill allows Georgians not to be victims on Georgia’s college campuses,” Rep. Rick Jasperse told the AJC. “It will allow those who choose to, to defend themselves.”
If this bill is passed, it will allow students to protect themselves and others. Because carriers must go through so many steps to receive a conceal carry license, students should feel more at ease about well rounded individuals carrying.
“Though I do not own or carry a weapon, I support the bill because it provides a web of protection within campuses, and more importantly, within individual buildings and classrooms,” said senior communication major Austin Wood.
A small, one-time use only pepper spray will not do much against an active shooter on campus.
Thanks for this excellent opinion article. You are right on. I wish you could make it to the Gold Dome to the hearing in front of the senate judiciary committee at 3pm Wednesday, 2 March! You would be dynamite in speaking in favor of HB 859!
Thank you so much!
The fact that there are restrictions on where they would be allowed is reason enough to not allow them at all. If you aren’t comfortable with them being everywhere then people aren’t ready to carry them.
“Georgia’s Board of Regents has long opposed campus carry, as does the University System of Georgia”.
How many times have you hear since enrolling in the University system “You are
adults now, act like it?” Okay, when I try to exercise the adult in me
you tell me I’m not responsible enough.
This is because most University systems are the bastions of liberal/progressive ideas and teachings. They traditionally state they promote free and open independent thought while squashing thoughts, ideas and voices that don’t support liberal ideas and ideals and mocking those that think independently of the liberal group-think.
They (University System of Georgia) also adhere to the liberal idea of thinking they know what is best for you and me better they you and me, that is why they do not support self protection -among other things freedom loving people support.
The liberal ‘nanny state’ wants to control us from birth to death, including our thoughts, money and children; it has been this way for a long, long time.
NO. THIS IS A DANGEROUSLY STUPID IDEA.
Oh, yeah, I want some dim-witted immature 21 year old walking around with a gun and a hair-trigger testosterone anger problem.
Ok. So what happens if say someone with a huge rivalry grudge against KSU decides to shoot us up? Then what happens?
Then those carrying on campus will be able to stand up to the rivalry grudge. Even if the campus went on lock down, how else would you stop a gunman if you don’t have a gun? Sure, you could tackle him/her or hurt the gunman some other way, but that is much more difficult than facing a gunman with a gun.
…and I want someone that probably never defended themselves or someone else in their life making decisions on what I can do to defend myself. We have a constitutional right to have weapons, you don’t have a constitutional right to not be offended.
I just hope the GA Board of Regents gets their act together and realize that if there’s a shooting at either one of our campuses, they will have to be ones to answer for this…..I cannot fathom a day where our campus becomes someone’s live firing range…..that would have tremendous consequences on it’s own. I pray that powerful committees like them will at least wake up and realize how vulnerable we as college students are. Look what happened at Virginia Tech. If every student was allowed to arm him or herself with a firearm, then perhaps the 32 people would still be living out their lives.
Do you know how many robberies happen near campus already? I would not feel safe on campus knowing that anyone could be carrying a gun at any moment because it’s legal. It would make you think twice about your safety at all times and living anywhere on campus.