I'm a student at Clemson University and today a letter of mine relating to the Virginia Tech shootings was printed in the paper. Here it is:
In the wake of the tragic events that occurred this week on the Virginia Tech campus, I found myself thinking about what could stop these school shootings from happening. My thoughts turned to a country that has many similarities to the United States, Israel. How many school shooting have you heard about in Israel? None? Why is that? It is because teachers in Israel who have gone through the process of getting a concealed weapons permit are allowed to carry their firearms in the classroom. As soon as terrorists started getting shot when attempting to take over schools, the attacks on the schools stopped.
While police departments are vital entities to any community, police officers provide a reactionary service. They are not always around when a crime is being committed. Until colleges can prevent any and all incidents that threaten students or employees on campus, personal safety remains the responsibility of each individual person.
Almost every state in this country has some form of concealed carry permit system. This process normally involves an extensive background check, live fire training with each applicant's firearm, and extensive coverage of applicable laws. Contrary to what the media may convey, persons with concealed carry permits do not go around looking for trouble. Having a concealed firearm gives a person the ability to protect themselves or others when their life is threatened.
If colleges are serious about preventing incidents similar to those that occurred at Virginia Tech, allowing those students and faculty who obtain a concealed carry permit to carry their firearms on college campuses will prevent, or minimize, future shootings.
In the wake of the tragic events that occurred this week on the Virginia Tech campus, I found myself thinking about what could stop these school shootings from happening. My thoughts turned to a country that has many similarities to the United States, Israel. How many school shooting have you heard about in Israel? None? Why is that? It is because teachers in Israel who have gone through the process of getting a concealed weapons permit are allowed to carry their firearms in the classroom. As soon as terrorists started getting shot when attempting to take over schools, the attacks on the schools stopped.
While police departments are vital entities to any community, police officers provide a reactionary service. They are not always around when a crime is being committed. Until colleges can prevent any and all incidents that threaten students or employees on campus, personal safety remains the responsibility of each individual person.
Almost every state in this country has some form of concealed carry permit system. This process normally involves an extensive background check, live fire training with each applicant's firearm, and extensive coverage of applicable laws. Contrary to what the media may convey, persons with concealed carry permits do not go around looking for trouble. Having a concealed firearm gives a person the ability to protect themselves or others when their life is threatened.
If colleges are serious about preventing incidents similar to those that occurred at Virginia Tech, allowing those students and faculty who obtain a concealed carry permit to carry their firearms on college campuses will prevent, or minimize, future shootings.
