The-Fly
Member
I saw this article in the local campus paper, and was not too pleased. I am writing this letter in response. Please give me feedback asap, I plan to submit my letter sometime today.
http://media.www.collegian.com/medi.../News/Csu-Reexamines.Gun.Policy-2943355.shtml
my proposed letter....
As a CSU staff member who holds a valid Larimer County concealed weapons permit, and who carries his/her firearm daily, I feel your article glosses over some critical details to a rather complex and controversial issue. With the issue of campus violence becoming more and more important, especially in regards to recent events such as Virginia Tech and the stabbing at CU, I feel this topic deserves a more balanced and in depth discussion than was given on 8/30/07.
Before going into my personal opinions, let's review the factual information about firearms on campus and concealed weapon permits (CWP). In most states, including Colorado, there is a set program for obtaining a CWP. The first requirement is a clean criminal record. Second requirement is being 21 years of age or older. Third requirement is having firearms training. When applying for a CWP, you will provide background information about yourself, proof of firearms training, finger prints, and you will be photographed. This is submitted to both the Colorado Bureau of Investigations (CBI) and the FBI. Only after the local sheriff, CBI, and the FBI all sign off on your application do you receive a CWP.
The firearms training that is mandated by the state will cover how to safely carry your firearm, when you can and can NOT legally use your firearm to protect yourself or another, and basic tactical techniques. My experience with several firearms classes is that the most emphasized topic is the legal aspects of carrying a pistol, and when you should or should not use your firearm. Most classes will take 1 or 2 full days, and cost $100 and up. Instructors are usually law enforcement instructors (they teach cops how to shoot, etc) or at the very least, NRA certified pistol instructors. Mine was a police instructor who trains Swat teams and police officers at the Red Rocks Police Academy.
Colorado State law regarding where you can carry a firearm if you hold a CWP is pretty clear. Despite what your article implies, a university has limited legal authority to prohibit a CWP holder from carrying. For example, as a valid Colorado CWP holder, I CAN carry my firearm on the CU campus, and I am NOT breaking any state law. If discovered with my firearm while on the CU campus, all they can do is force me to leave the campus. What CU does have is an internal policy that says anyone caught with a firearm on campus, even if they hold a valid CWP, will be expelled (if a student) or fired (if a staff member). Virginia Tech has a similar policy in place. CSU does NOT have this policy in place, so students or staff members who qualify for a CWP, and hold one, can carry on campus and not be subject to CSU sanctions.
Some states go further in the legal protections of CWP holders, and prohibit their universities from banning legal carry on campus. Utah, for example, does not allow their state schools to put into force any university level sanctions against students or staff members.
I obviously feel that CWP holders SHOULD be allowed to carry on campus. In the hysteria that followed Virginia Tech, some people called for more rules, more regulations, including banning CWP holders. Let's think about this for a second. Cho (the VT shooter) did not have a CWP permit. He broke several state and VT laws/policies by carrying his firearm on campus, not to mention the more obvious laws against murder. VT had lobbied against a Utah style law that would have overridden their campus policies the year before the VT shootings (one of the VT administrators arrogantly crowed about this policy victory after the Virgina State legislature shot down the Utah style law). Yet 32 people died that tragic day, and those people never had a chance because VT prohibits them from being able to carry a firearm if they’ve proven themselves capable by obtaining a CWP.
CWP holders call places like VT “victim disarmament zones”. Why? Because a homicidal maniac does NOT care about what rules are in place, what laws they are breaking, etc. Yet lawful citizens like CWP holders obey the rules, even if they disagree with them. The result: criminals and maniacs have all the power, the citizens, none. And yet some people think that VT style policies will make CSU safer.
Even law enforcement officers believe that “victim disarmament zones” are no cure for this problem, including the sheriff of Larimer County (please see included html links at the bottom).
I understand that firearms on campus (even legally carried ones such as mine) are a hugely controversial issue and need further debate, if for no other reason than to educate people. The one hope I have is that this doesn’t turn in a Democrat vs Republican mud fest. I know many Democrats who have CWP’s, and a few Republicans that hate guns. Lets stick to facts and avoid hysterics or unproven fears.
http://www.co.larimer.co.us/sheriff/bulls_Eye/CouldItHappenHereBullEye.htm
http://www.co.larimer.co.us/sheriff/bulls_Eye/KimberonCampusBullEye.htm
http://media.www.collegian.com/medi.../News/Csu-Reexamines.Gun.Policy-2943355.shtml
my proposed letter....
As a CSU staff member who holds a valid Larimer County concealed weapons permit, and who carries his/her firearm daily, I feel your article glosses over some critical details to a rather complex and controversial issue. With the issue of campus violence becoming more and more important, especially in regards to recent events such as Virginia Tech and the stabbing at CU, I feel this topic deserves a more balanced and in depth discussion than was given on 8/30/07.
Before going into my personal opinions, let's review the factual information about firearms on campus and concealed weapon permits (CWP). In most states, including Colorado, there is a set program for obtaining a CWP. The first requirement is a clean criminal record. Second requirement is being 21 years of age or older. Third requirement is having firearms training. When applying for a CWP, you will provide background information about yourself, proof of firearms training, finger prints, and you will be photographed. This is submitted to both the Colorado Bureau of Investigations (CBI) and the FBI. Only after the local sheriff, CBI, and the FBI all sign off on your application do you receive a CWP.
The firearms training that is mandated by the state will cover how to safely carry your firearm, when you can and can NOT legally use your firearm to protect yourself or another, and basic tactical techniques. My experience with several firearms classes is that the most emphasized topic is the legal aspects of carrying a pistol, and when you should or should not use your firearm. Most classes will take 1 or 2 full days, and cost $100 and up. Instructors are usually law enforcement instructors (they teach cops how to shoot, etc) or at the very least, NRA certified pistol instructors. Mine was a police instructor who trains Swat teams and police officers at the Red Rocks Police Academy.
Colorado State law regarding where you can carry a firearm if you hold a CWP is pretty clear. Despite what your article implies, a university has limited legal authority to prohibit a CWP holder from carrying. For example, as a valid Colorado CWP holder, I CAN carry my firearm on the CU campus, and I am NOT breaking any state law. If discovered with my firearm while on the CU campus, all they can do is force me to leave the campus. What CU does have is an internal policy that says anyone caught with a firearm on campus, even if they hold a valid CWP, will be expelled (if a student) or fired (if a staff member). Virginia Tech has a similar policy in place. CSU does NOT have this policy in place, so students or staff members who qualify for a CWP, and hold one, can carry on campus and not be subject to CSU sanctions.
Some states go further in the legal protections of CWP holders, and prohibit their universities from banning legal carry on campus. Utah, for example, does not allow their state schools to put into force any university level sanctions against students or staff members.
I obviously feel that CWP holders SHOULD be allowed to carry on campus. In the hysteria that followed Virginia Tech, some people called for more rules, more regulations, including banning CWP holders. Let's think about this for a second. Cho (the VT shooter) did not have a CWP permit. He broke several state and VT laws/policies by carrying his firearm on campus, not to mention the more obvious laws against murder. VT had lobbied against a Utah style law that would have overridden their campus policies the year before the VT shootings (one of the VT administrators arrogantly crowed about this policy victory after the Virgina State legislature shot down the Utah style law). Yet 32 people died that tragic day, and those people never had a chance because VT prohibits them from being able to carry a firearm if they’ve proven themselves capable by obtaining a CWP.
CWP holders call places like VT “victim disarmament zones”. Why? Because a homicidal maniac does NOT care about what rules are in place, what laws they are breaking, etc. Yet lawful citizens like CWP holders obey the rules, even if they disagree with them. The result: criminals and maniacs have all the power, the citizens, none. And yet some people think that VT style policies will make CSU safer.
Even law enforcement officers believe that “victim disarmament zones” are no cure for this problem, including the sheriff of Larimer County (please see included html links at the bottom).
I understand that firearms on campus (even legally carried ones such as mine) are a hugely controversial issue and need further debate, if for no other reason than to educate people. The one hope I have is that this doesn’t turn in a Democrat vs Republican mud fest. I know many Democrats who have CWP’s, and a few Republicans that hate guns. Lets stick to facts and avoid hysterics or unproven fears.
http://www.co.larimer.co.us/sheriff/bulls_Eye/CouldItHappenHereBullEye.htm
http://www.co.larimer.co.us/sheriff/bulls_Eye/KimberonCampusBullEye.htm
