only1asterisk
member
- Joined
- Jun 13, 2003
- Messages
- 2,412
I don't have anyone to proof this right now ans I'd like to get it off today. Please read and offer suggestions. If there is a structural, spelling or grammer issue, please copy and highlight the problem.
Thanks!
Here is the op-ed:
http://www.da.wvu.edu/show_article.php?&story_id=33147&archive_date=2008-02-22
And my response:
Ms. Swisher’s Friday editorial espousing her views on the university’s concealed handgun policy is rife with omissions and contains serious factual errors that should be addressed. She seems to be under the impression that carrying a concealed handgun on the campus of West Virginia University is against the law. If so, she is very much mistaken. Although it is a serious violation of school policy, there is no law prohibiting licensed individuals from possessing a concealed handgun on campus.
Ms. Swisher further appears to be confused on the current requirements for obtaining a West Virginia concealed handgun license. Regarding mandatory training and licensing she writes: “If these things were made mandatory and enforced [concealed weapons on campus] might work.” Had Ms. Swiger done some rudimentary research, she might have discovered that these requirements are already part of the requirements when applying for a concealed handgun license in West Virginia. In addition, applicants must be fingerprinted , submit to a background check and pay a $90 fee.
As I understand her, Ms. Swisher’s main objection to permitting lawful concealed carry on campus is the irresponsible nature of her fellow students. I would agree that there are irresponsible individuals on campus. Fortunately, irresponsible people have been anticipated by the legislature and numerous restrictions have been written into state code. People under 21 are not generally eligible. This disqualifies the majority traditional undergraduate students. Also ineligible is anyone with a felony conviction, anyone convicted of domestic violence or subject to a restraining order. Drug users, the mentally ill, people under indictment for a felony or convicted of certain violent misdemeanors are all unable to acquire licenses.
Ms. Swisher is not alone in her fears of escalated violence caused by reduced restrictions on concealed handguns. Similar concerns have been voiced in each of the 20 or so states that have liberalized their permit systems since 1987. In each case, those opposed predicted a bloodbath, with western movie style shootouts erupting from every argument, traffic accident or other minor conflict. In each case, this scenario failed to develop. Several states collected detailed data on people licensed to carry handguns. The results of these studies show that licensees are many times less likely to commit crimes than the general public. In fact, per capita they are less likely to commit crimes than police or members of the state legislature in some states.
Millions of people in the United States are either licensed to carry a handgun in one or more states or can legally carry without licenses. Chances are, you’ve sat next to one at a movie or stood in checkout line with one of them at some point. As a rule, they aren’t crazed with paranoia or inept wannabe heroes. Individuals that take upon themselves the grave responsibility of carrying a firearm seldom do so lightly.
For the most part they view carrying a handgun in the same light a having a first aid kit in their car or a fire extinguisher in their home. They are artist, nurses, grandmothers, teachers, and retired factory workers. They deliver your pizzas, drive your taxi, fix your computer networks and write your novels. The only aspect that consistently sets them apart is their choice to take personal responsibility for their own safety and prepare for full extent of possibilities that their decision entails.
It proven impossible to secure a single building such as a courthouse against motivated killers with no regard for their own lives. WVU could adopt additional security measures until it more closely resembles a prison than a place of higher education and still be unable to prevent such tragedies as occurred at Virginia Tech or NIU. While changing university policy to permit members of the campus community to legally arm themselves may not fully deter suicidal mass murderers, it is exceedingly unlikely to cause any harm and should be given real consideration.
Thanks!
Here is the op-ed:
http://www.da.wvu.edu/show_article.php?&story_id=33147&archive_date=2008-02-22
And my response:
Ms. Swisher’s Friday editorial espousing her views on the university’s concealed handgun policy is rife with omissions and contains serious factual errors that should be addressed. She seems to be under the impression that carrying a concealed handgun on the campus of West Virginia University is against the law. If so, she is very much mistaken. Although it is a serious violation of school policy, there is no law prohibiting licensed individuals from possessing a concealed handgun on campus.
Ms. Swisher further appears to be confused on the current requirements for obtaining a West Virginia concealed handgun license. Regarding mandatory training and licensing she writes: “If these things were made mandatory and enforced [concealed weapons on campus] might work.” Had Ms. Swiger done some rudimentary research, she might have discovered that these requirements are already part of the requirements when applying for a concealed handgun license in West Virginia. In addition, applicants must be fingerprinted , submit to a background check and pay a $90 fee.
As I understand her, Ms. Swisher’s main objection to permitting lawful concealed carry on campus is the irresponsible nature of her fellow students. I would agree that there are irresponsible individuals on campus. Fortunately, irresponsible people have been anticipated by the legislature and numerous restrictions have been written into state code. People under 21 are not generally eligible. This disqualifies the majority traditional undergraduate students. Also ineligible is anyone with a felony conviction, anyone convicted of domestic violence or subject to a restraining order. Drug users, the mentally ill, people under indictment for a felony or convicted of certain violent misdemeanors are all unable to acquire licenses.
Ms. Swisher is not alone in her fears of escalated violence caused by reduced restrictions on concealed handguns. Similar concerns have been voiced in each of the 20 or so states that have liberalized their permit systems since 1987. In each case, those opposed predicted a bloodbath, with western movie style shootouts erupting from every argument, traffic accident or other minor conflict. In each case, this scenario failed to develop. Several states collected detailed data on people licensed to carry handguns. The results of these studies show that licensees are many times less likely to commit crimes than the general public. In fact, per capita they are less likely to commit crimes than police or members of the state legislature in some states.
Millions of people in the United States are either licensed to carry a handgun in one or more states or can legally carry without licenses. Chances are, you’ve sat next to one at a movie or stood in checkout line with one of them at some point. As a rule, they aren’t crazed with paranoia or inept wannabe heroes. Individuals that take upon themselves the grave responsibility of carrying a firearm seldom do so lightly.
For the most part they view carrying a handgun in the same light a having a first aid kit in their car or a fire extinguisher in their home. They are artist, nurses, grandmothers, teachers, and retired factory workers. They deliver your pizzas, drive your taxi, fix your computer networks and write your novels. The only aspect that consistently sets them apart is their choice to take personal responsibility for their own safety and prepare for full extent of possibilities that their decision entails.
It proven impossible to secure a single building such as a courthouse against motivated killers with no regard for their own lives. WVU could adopt additional security measures until it more closely resembles a prison than a place of higher education and still be unable to prevent such tragedies as occurred at Virginia Tech or NIU. While changing university policy to permit members of the campus community to legally arm themselves may not fully deter suicidal mass murderers, it is exceedingly unlikely to cause any harm and should be given real consideration.
