What do you think the percentage is, universities have gotten their reputation for being anti gun and a liberal hot bed for good reason. Just curious, I know there are universities that lean conservative and pro gun, I would just be surprised if they are a high percentage, and even more surprised if they taught a large percentage of college students overall.
I quite agree that the general attitude of universities is anti-firearms. There are two reasons:
1. The general political views of most of the folks working there. Guns are seen as totemic of the worst of social conservative positions. Thus, identifying with that set of folks is unpleasant and reading the rhetoric from major gun organizations adds to the problem. Wayne's editorials that most Democrats and professors are socialists and want to make your kids socialists are an example of stupid NRA rhetoric. Yes, someone will say that is true - but it isn't. Most kids don't become socialists. There are PC horror shows at some schools to be sure but that's not everybody.
2. Schools have been told that their overall liability is lesser if they don't allow guns. I've been to seminars on this. If they allow guns to employees and said employee goes nuts or shoots an innocent, the costs will be more than if a rampage occurs that might have been reported. Frank knows this better than I but the analyses seem to be that you are not responsible for the actions of a third party that you had no knowledge of.
3. Give a choice, most colleges unless specifically conservative in mission - will not allow guns. In TX, IIRC, the schools had a discussion of campus carry as it was mandated by the state. The public schools were forced by legislation to allow such and most fought it unsuccessfully. None of the private schools did. The discussions were either set up to be fraudulent with a predetermined anti-carry outcome or with the knowledge that the boss (president) will kick your butt if you come out in favor. Personally, I did with protection of tenure, being a full professor and being old. I could tell the President he was full of it in a discussion. Also, testify as I did to the legislature. Unfortunately, the private property argument allowed the private schools to stop a mandate for carry on their campuses. The private property argument is a different one.
The students - dealing with upscale Texan kids, upscale Oregon kids and working class in both states - I found that they have the typical range of gun beliefs with many of them being all for gun rights, buying guns, getting concealed carry documentation. Not a small minority BTW. That's why Wayne's socialist blather is so stupid. This might be different in upscale colleges of the East but that just mirrors state attitudes.
It is interesting that high school shooting teams are making a resurgence, so much so that a NY state legislator from NYC wants to ban them as we know skeet shooting is causal of evil.
http://time.com/longform/high-school-shooting-teams/
I react to generalized statements that academics in toto are anti-gun. Academics like Kleck are crucial reseachers for making the case of gun ownership. There are gun positive feminist scholars.and minority scholars. So general statement are silly.
The same to the repeated statement about mental illness and the BIG LIE. It is a nuanced argument as we do see illness being related to some pretty horrific crimes. The general statement just makes us look stupid. There is a problem with some and it needs to be solved.
As an idea for Red Flag states - here and probably everywhere - there are lawyer commercials on TV. Have you been hit by a truck. Ed Sleazy will get you big bucks. Did you get exposed to some substance? Call Ed Sleazy! Did you take Pill XYZ, call Ed Sleazy.
So how about - Were your guns taken away in a false Red Flag claim? Call Ed Righteous and we will sue the accuser FOR YOU! Run this a few times on the tube. This gets you out of trying to prove evil actions in criminal courts with their higher standards.