How many of you have kids in college?

[bogie]

(or hey, you're in college yourself, or you have a brother or sister there...)

Activism time, folks...

Call the university, and ask to speak to the security folks. Or the dean of students. Or the president's office. Spread it around some.

Let them know how concerned you are about campus shootings and campus crime, and inquire if they have a plan in place, and what their response time is. Don't mention concealed carry. Just keep asking them, especially if they say the "lockdown" word, "Hey, that doesn't work - what's my son/daughter/brother/sister/wife/husband going to do until your folks get there?"

Object is to get the folks thinking. Don't talk about "gun rights," or concealed carry, or the like. Don't even mention the possibility of a "good" armed student. Get them thinking, and likely a few will think themselves around to it. But they won't if we tell 'em what we want them to think... Know what I mean? The instant you say "second amendment," "right to keep and bear arms" or the like, they'll shut down... But if you can gently lead them, gently, they may learn to logically think...

 

[Run&Shoot]

Or send them to a school dominated by ROTC or cadets. Even though it may be technically against school rules to have wepaons in dorm rooms, I know of at least one such school which had a high number of cadets that were also in the National Guard or Reserves as enlisted. Most had gone through sniper school, jump school, MPs, Basic or even deployed to Iraq, etc. Many of them had their own AR15s, sniper rifles, and pistols either in their dorm rooms (upperclassmen) or in their car trunks.

I never heard of anyone being disciplined for having a firearm on campus. All the cadets had neutered M14s in their rooms for drill, which would not help in an emergency but it did make for a gun friendly mindset on campus.

I also never heard of any incident of violence on campus while my daughter was there. She assured me repeatedly that if anyone tried anything in town or on campus that not only was she now better trained in hand to hand, but she had a couple dozen class "brothers" that would come to her aid, any hour any day. Tight knit classmates + military trained + armed to the teeth = polite society.

 

[TallPine]

On-line college education

That's what one of my daughters is doing. She wants to be a K-9 officer.

 

[kingpin008]

I'm a college student. Just recently started back after a (much too long) hiatus.

I'll admit, I'm not happy about being disarmed. My dad and I were discussing the latest shooting in IL earlier, and he remarked that at least I get to carry knives all day (I'm a culinary student). I told him that a blade is a sorry defense against a bullet, but I knew what he meant.

We then talked about concealed carry on campus, and would it be worth it to do it anyway, etc, etc. At the end of the conversation, he starts to walk away and says "It's sad that I have to say this, but if it's the law or your life, screw the law."

This is coming from a man who, when I first started back shooting a few years back was NOT very happy or supportive of it.

I have to agree with him though. I think it's getting to the point where you'll find that a lot of students are going to start coming to class armed. Whether that means CCW'ing a gun, blade, mace, or whatever else they can manage, policies or laws be damned. It's simply too dangerous not to nowadays.

 

[ZeSpectre]

Not a student, work at a major university. To say this is of concern to me would be a massive understatement. I continue to nibble at the edges of this issue where I work and pray frequently that nothing goes fubar before some progress can be made.

 

[Regolith]

I'm a student, currently. Per Oregon law I could, if I had a CCW, legally carry on campus, but I could be expelled for it if campus administrators found out. Kind of sucks, and I don't see it changing anytime soon, particularly given that case recently here in Oregon where that school teacher sued to get that restriction rescinded and lost.

I do carry a knife, though its not anywhere near being a combat blade. I've even used it in some of my art classes to sharpen pencils. Small town school, and nobody gets excited about such things.

 

[Rumble]

No kids in college, but I work at a large university. I think I can basically echo ZeSpectre's sentiment. While it's not illegal for me to carry on campus, it would most likely cost me my job if I were made. My wife and I have contacted our representatives and so forth, but the response has been tepid. I'm left with hoping nothing goes wrong and that progress is made somewhere.

 

[Reneage Riot]

I go to Iowa State University, and up to a couple months ago, our campus police didn't even carry guns. Then there was a big debate about how if they have guns they'll start shooting students for random things. They're a full blown police force with the same training as the city police, Anyways now they can carry. They also just implemented an alert system that involves an auto text message to cell phones and emails in case of a VTech type instance. I don't know exactly what their policy would be, but it sounds like a major concern is spreading the news of a gunman as opposed to keeping it hush hush until its over.

 

[Pigspitter]

Got a sister at UGA, worry about her whenever I can.

 

[bogie]

Guys... You can worry, or you can try to get the administrations and the media to light a fire under themselves. Get them asking the important question - How can we have a safe facility?

Some of them will arrive at the right answer.

 

[Kind of Blued]

I'm in college at a major university and it is a class VI felony for me to carry on campus, or I believe, to even have a firearm in my car. I could also get 18 months in prison for carrying a pocket knife on campus.

Sigh...

One of the main reasons I don't have my CCW permit yet is because, between school and work (which also has a no weapons policy), the only time that I spend anywhere other than at home where my guns are, is sitting at stoplights. There is also the occasional lunch and pint or two, which would also keep me from legally carrying.

So what am I left with? The pursuit of a higher education with the price of my life potentially stacked on top of tuition and books.

I've considered, after getting my CCW permit, contacting the higher-ups and plainly saying that I would be in a better place if my right to protect myself wasn't stripped from me when I drove onto campus. I think coming from a student who could say that they had received proper training seems to be the simplest, most potentially effective argument, but I could be wrong.

My school also has the "automated" text message alert system in place, which I am signed up for.

By "automated" they mean someone has to see somebody with a gun, get away without being murdered, find a campus police officer, have them radio back to the campus police HQ, have a secretary hit some keys and send out the alert. I'm pretty sure even a .38 Special is faster than that, whether it be coming from a nutcase's gun, or mine, if I COULD legally carry on campus.

And the kicker? Everybody knows you turn your cell phone off when you're in class. Its common courtesy.

Alas, anything and everything suggests that, if I were smart, I would carry at school. Of course, I'm a law-abiding citizen, and the nutcases still are not.

Guys... You can worry, or you can try to get the administrations and the media to light a fire under themselves. Get them asking the important question - How can we have a safe facility?

Some of them will arrive at the right answer.

I apparently have far less faith in said people than you do. While inaction is not acceptable, "it can't hurt" doesn't necessarily ring true either. If "the media" or "the administration(s)" could personally meet me and get to know me, they might be all for letting me carry on campus, but thats not how the law works; its universal. However, I may be a good representative for the student body, and I am willing to do that.

And at the speed at which these unrealistic laws turn over, we will ALWAYS have enough time to worry, no matter how successful we are.

 

[Bones11b]

I'm a member on Facebook of an organization dedicated to support the right of concealed handgun license holders to carry concealed handguns on college campuses.

www.concealedcampus.com

There's an ABC News Facebook poll on the topic of gun control you can hit as well.

 

[Bazooka Joe71]

Are there any universities that allow CCW?

 

[soccergod04]

I'm a student and so is my younger brother. I can't own a handgun for another few months, but wish that I would be allowed to CCW it on campus when that time comes. Unfortunately, this is very unlikely. I will, however carry it everywhere that it's legal to do so, as this kind of thing, along with the recent shooting in the mall is getting ridiculous. We're not even allowed to carry a knife on campus, which is ridiculous, but not heavily enforced, as I can't count the number of pocket clips I see every day. Guns would probably be a completely different ballgame, even though I go to a very conservative school.

 

[redneckrepairs]

My daughter is a student and on her campus here in colorado it is legal to ccw and she has her ccw . I wont speak to how much she does or does not carry , i will just point out that for most of colorado's higher education campus it is not a criminal offense to carry. It may however be against policy of that school and an expellable offense . At her School it is not against policy , or at least policy as in her issued student handbook .

 

[bogie]

Well, guys...

Doing nothing will gain us...

NOTHING.

Anyone have any better ideas? Now is the time that folks need to be calling - "How can you assure me that my daughter is safe there? Should I come pick her up? I'm sure there are other schools..." That's the kind of thing that the administrators -will- notice. Give it a day or so, let them figure out that people are worried, and THEN ask if concealed carry is legal on their campus, because you can get your daughter a permit, and you've got a .38 you can give her. NOT AT FIRST. Let things ferment. Let it brew.

Now, do any of y'all have a better idea? Because this crap has GOT to stop.

Members: 62,056, Active Members: 13,589

We've got 2,000 folks online right now.

We've got the numbers. We just don't seem to have the cohesiveness, the motivation, or the willpower to USE those numbers.

Or we can preach at ourselves, and argue amongst ourselves.

 

[ZeSpectre]

Are there any universities that allow CCW?

-Utah and strangely enough (if I'm not mistaken), Bridgewater College in Va.
There may be others but I don't know them.

 

[MaterDei]

My daughter attends a college in Florida. She'll turn 21 this year and when she does she'll be getting her Texas CHL which will give her the legal right to carry in Florida. Although her college forbids it she will carry to class too. If she ever gets in trouble for it it will be because she has had to defend herself. If that happens then I don't care what the consequences are provided my daughter comes home safe and sound.

 

[buy guns]

My daughter attends a college in Florida. She'll turn 21 this year and when she does she'll be getting her Texas CHL which will give her the legal right to carry in Florida. Although her college forbids it she will carry to class too. If she ever gets in trouble for it it will be because she has had to defend herself. If that happens then I don't care what the consequences are provided my daughter comes home safe and sound.

Lucky for her, the Florida DA won't prosecute her for carrying as long as she doesn't do anything that would get in her in trouble if she was off campus. However she will still get arrested and possibly asked to leave the school. Don't ask me how I know...

 

[Guitargod1985]

I go to a college in Florida and it is ILLEGAL for me to carry concealed on campus or to open carry anywhere. If, however, it were legal for me to carry concealed on campus, I would do so in a heartbeat - even if being "made" meant expulsion.

I wrote a letter to my state rep regarding this subject but never heard back. I participated in the Concealed Carry on Campus empty holster protest back a few months ago last semester, but I didn't see anyone else at school doing it and I got a lot of strange looks.

Honestly, in my state it is more of a legislative issue than a school policy. Yeah, the policies are there, but it's the law we have to worry about in Florida. Until we can get our legislators to understand common sense, worrying about the school's policy is irrelevant.

I just moved to the Tampa Bay area from Orlando and just recently learned my new state and U.S. reps' names. I still don't know where they stand on the issues so I need to get on that and start writing them as I did in my previous districts. I hope they will be more receptive than my previous representatives, who claimed to support gun rights (my Congressman even signed the amicus curiae brief on behalf of Dick Heller) but then consistently deny us the right to protect ourselves on campus.

 

[MaterDei]

I'm with you 'buy guns'.

Guitargod1985, my daughter attends a private college.

 

[RedLion]

I go to Iowa State University, and up to a couple months ago, our campus police didn't even carry guns. Then there was a big debate about how if they have guns they'll start shooting students for random things. They're a full blown police force with the same training as the city police, Anyways now they can carry. They also just implemented an alert system that involves an auto text message to cell phones and emails in case of a VTech type instance. I don't know exactly what their policy would be, but it sounds like a major concern is spreading the news of a gunman as opposed to keeping it hush hush until its over.

I also attend Iowa State University and I think it is a step toward security to have campus police armed, but I don't know how effective they would be at deterring a major event from happening. Also I don't really see many of them around other than the occasional campus cop car that drives by, so I don't think they could do much except respond to an incident.

 

[Guitargod1985]

Guitargod1985, my daughter attends a private college.

Chapter 790, Florida Statutes states that it is unlawful even for a person licensed under 790.06 (CWL) to carry into "any college or university facility unless the licensee is a registered student, employee, or faculty member of such college or university and the weapon is a stun gun or nonlethal electric weapon or device designed solely for defensive purposes and the weapon does not fire a dart or projectile."

As far as I'm aware they do not make a distinction between private and public schools. Not that I'm against it by any means. If I weren't worried about being arrested and losing my bung-ginity to "Bubba" in prison, yeah, I'd carry at college. But you understand as we all do that your daughter's life is vastly more important than obeying some asinine law. You're right about one thing - if it comes down to being dead and free or being prosecuted and alive, the latter is assuredly better. I just have the feeling I would print or drop my gun, so I won't do it.

 

[kd7nqb]

I am a student at Portland State University and we recently had a campus security forum because they are wanting to revise how CPSO is trained and certified the concept of CCW on campus came up and it was received with better reaction than I would have expected. We are working towards having the no gun policy dropped but we are not there yet.

 

[Regolith]

I am a student at Portland State University and we recently had a campus security forum because they are wanting to revise how CPSO is trained and certified the concept of CCW on campus came up and it was received with better reaction than I would have expected. We are working towards having the no gun policy dropped but we are not there yet.

Hmm....I'm surprised at that, actually. If PSU doesn't have that bad of a reaction to it, maybe the OUS has some hope after all.