The President of Boise State University just sent an open letter out about security and safety on the BSU campus. Here is the orginal letter and my response:
Original letter here
My proposed response:
President Kustra
Thank you for your open letter about security measures at Boise State University. I am a perspective student at BSU this fall so security on campus is an important issue for both myself and my wife, even more so after the recent events at Viginia Tech. I am a licensed concealed carry permit holder in the States of Idaho and Utah. By having a State issued Concealed Weapons Permit I have proven to the State that I am a law abiding, upstanding citizen. I have had a Concealed Weapons Permit in Idaho for ten years.
I have several years of gun safety training starting from eight years old in Boy Scouts. As an adult I participate in the Civilian Marksman Program (CMP) and the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA). I also have taken many hours of lecture and hands on gun training courses offered by law enforcement departments as well as civilian training offered by many privately owned gun ranges and the National Rifle Association.
This brings me to the security proceedures and policies of Boise State University. While the policies sound good on paper, the reality of the matter as proven by the shooting at Virginia Tech, is that none of these precautions prevented the horrible acts commited by a student.
In your open letter you stated, "Each of us individually is in some regard responsible for our collective safety and security." Part of my individual responsibility of safety and security includes my ability to carry a sidearm concealed where ever I am allowed to carry.
As far as I am aware Boise State University policy is that guns are not allowed on campus, even by law abiding, legally carrying citizens. Cho Seung-Hui violated Virginia Tech school policy by having a gun on campus. His victims did not violate this policy. His victims were disarmed by policy, while he ignored that policy.
One student of Virginia Tech is Wayne Chiang. Wayne Chiang was incorrectly identified on Fox News as the possible shooter. Wayne Chiang is a gun enthusiast and a Federally licensed gun collector. Wayne does not carry a sidearm to school because of Virginia Tech's policies, though the State of Virgina allows Wayne to carry in other places. I am not saying Wayne himself would have stopped the tragedy, I am only using him as an example as a student that is a legal gun owner.
Had Wayne Chiang, or any number of legal concealed carry permit holders, been allowed to bring legally carried sidearms to school this terrible tragedy might have been prevented, or the impact would have been greatly lessened.
The recent shooting at the Salt Lake City Trolly Square Mall was stopped by an off duty police officer who had a concealed weapons permit. It should be noted that Trolly Square also has a "no guns" policy that Sulejmen Talovic completely ignored before starting his rampage.
As part of your review of safety measures, emergency policies and procedures please consider that there are many legal gun owners who could or would have the ability to stop these kinds of atrocious acts if we were allowed to carry our sidearms on campus. Idaho enjoys some of the lowest violent crime rates in the nation in part because of our ability to legally carry and use firearms for our protection, defense, and security.
Thank you for your time and understanding,
Original letter here
My proposed response:
President Kustra
Thank you for your open letter about security measures at Boise State University. I am a perspective student at BSU this fall so security on campus is an important issue for both myself and my wife, even more so after the recent events at Viginia Tech. I am a licensed concealed carry permit holder in the States of Idaho and Utah. By having a State issued Concealed Weapons Permit I have proven to the State that I am a law abiding, upstanding citizen. I have had a Concealed Weapons Permit in Idaho for ten years.
I have several years of gun safety training starting from eight years old in Boy Scouts. As an adult I participate in the Civilian Marksman Program (CMP) and the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA). I also have taken many hours of lecture and hands on gun training courses offered by law enforcement departments as well as civilian training offered by many privately owned gun ranges and the National Rifle Association.
This brings me to the security proceedures and policies of Boise State University. While the policies sound good on paper, the reality of the matter as proven by the shooting at Virginia Tech, is that none of these precautions prevented the horrible acts commited by a student.
In your open letter you stated, "Each of us individually is in some regard responsible for our collective safety and security." Part of my individual responsibility of safety and security includes my ability to carry a sidearm concealed where ever I am allowed to carry.
As far as I am aware Boise State University policy is that guns are not allowed on campus, even by law abiding, legally carrying citizens. Cho Seung-Hui violated Virginia Tech school policy by having a gun on campus. His victims did not violate this policy. His victims were disarmed by policy, while he ignored that policy.
One student of Virginia Tech is Wayne Chiang. Wayne Chiang was incorrectly identified on Fox News as the possible shooter. Wayne Chiang is a gun enthusiast and a Federally licensed gun collector. Wayne does not carry a sidearm to school because of Virginia Tech's policies, though the State of Virgina allows Wayne to carry in other places. I am not saying Wayne himself would have stopped the tragedy, I am only using him as an example as a student that is a legal gun owner.
Had Wayne Chiang, or any number of legal concealed carry permit holders, been allowed to bring legally carried sidearms to school this terrible tragedy might have been prevented, or the impact would have been greatly lessened.
The recent shooting at the Salt Lake City Trolly Square Mall was stopped by an off duty police officer who had a concealed weapons permit. It should be noted that Trolly Square also has a "no guns" policy that Sulejmen Talovic completely ignored before starting his rampage.
As part of your review of safety measures, emergency policies and procedures please consider that there are many legal gun owners who could or would have the ability to stop these kinds of atrocious acts if we were allowed to carry our sidearms on campus. Idaho enjoys some of the lowest violent crime rates in the nation in part because of our ability to legally carry and use firearms for our protection, defense, and security.
Thank you for your time and understanding,