SplAtteR

Two possible thoughts come to mind when I know I am in the presence of people carrying weapons.  My first thought is “WOW! I must be very safe here with all these people to protect me.”  The second, possibly more accurate, thought is “Oh crap!  I’m surrounded and could be shot at any minute.”  My instinct tells me that if the people carrying the weapons are college students, my reaction will probably be closer to my second thought.  This response is nothing personal against college students, for most people are college students at some point during their life.  I just don’t think most students in college are responsible enough to carry a concealed weapon. 

Parties are very common on college campuses.  Many parties involve students drinking alcohol or doing drugs.  Adding weapons to this mixture will just lead to a deadly combination.  According to the Brady Campaign’s statistics, “alcohol…’is involved in two thirds of college student suicides, in 90% of campus rapes, and in 95% of the violent crime on campus.’”  These are very high numbers.  Now think about adding guns; ”[these]assaults [are definitely] more likely to be fatal” (Brady Campaign).  The point is, any of these fatalities are preventable without the use of concealed weapons on campus.  If they are not, then obviously campus security is not performing their duties correctly.  As MSNBC reports, campus police forces are stepping up their game.  Their improvements include “installing brighter lights [and] building observation towers.”  Police officials will also be “attending security summits” (MSNBC).  Allowing campus police forces to improve their tactics seems like a much better idea than allowing students to carry concealed weapons of their own.  Police officials have gone through training and their job is to protect everyone on campus.  Students should stick to their job of earning a diploma. 

 Now doesn’t it just make sense that more weapons on campus would lead to more violence?  I know it makes sense in my mind.  College students aren’t ready to deal with other college students possessing weapons.  They have enough on their plate.  How about colleges just stick to improving their campus security?  That seems like the best solution to me.