Students for Concealed Carrry on Campus Aired by KBTX, Bryan/College Station

[Deer Hunter]

Video: http://www.kbtx.com/video/?autoStart=true&topVideoCatNo=default&clipId=3690965


Story: http://www.kbtx.com/home/headlines/43650582.html#

Symbolic Stance Gets A&M Students Talking About Guns on Campus Save Email Print


Posted: 10:05 PM Apr 24, 2009
Last Updated: 6:35 PM Apr 24, 2009
Reporter: Kristen Ross
Email Address: [email protected]



Ready, aim, fire.

Texas A&M students take their shot at changing state law.


It's a controversial topic that has students talking; to allow/not allow licensed gun owners to carry on campus.

Advocates of the proposed legislation call it a means of self defense. Meanwhile, opponents say it could cause more chaos, in a threatening situation.

Friday, some passionate proponents were on campus wearing their hearts on their hips, as part of Empty Holster Week.

"They think giving guns to everybody would be a terrible idea. Yeah giving guns to everybody is, but what we're talking about is only allowing those who already have a CHL to carry on campus, " Emily Watson with Students for Concealed Carry on Campus said.

It's a loaded topic, that's creating a fire storm across the state.

"Our group advocates the right to carry concealed weapons on school grounds. We feel the school shouldn't have the right to tell us we can't defend ourselves," Nicolas Kennedy with Students for Concealed on Campus said.

Texas A&M student Nicholas Kennedy is part of the group, Students for Concealed Carry on Campus. He and others are taking a symbolic stance on the issue by passing out information, and wearing gun holsters with one key thing missing, the gun itself.

"It represents that we really are defenseless, and if someone wanted to there's nothing stopping some deranged psycho-path from coming to campus and doing untold harm to anyone here," Kennedy said.

That's why Kennedy and others are lobbying for change so the now empty holsters, won't have to be just an accessory much longer.

"You tell me how a gun free zone protects anyone? All it does is harm people who would protect everyone else," one supporter said.

It doesn't take long for other students to get in on the discussion, and start taking sides.

"It won't make it any better if you turn it into a potential Wild West," one opponent said.

"It won't be the Wild West," a supporter said.

"It's just not a good idea mostly for people's safety," A&M Student Windell Reneau said.

"I think it's a very good idea, with the absence of people being armed and able to defend themselves against people who come on campus armed illegally," A&M Student Justin French said.

"If we just did away with guns we wouldn't have the problem to begin with," A&M Student Ivana Leon added.

But Emily Watson believes history paints a different picture.

"Every multiple victim shooting--public shooting in the U.S. that has had more than three victims occurred where guns were banned already," Watson said. "That goes to show just banning guns in a place by no means is safer."

A Texas House committee has given initial approval to its version of the bill, a companion bill authored by an Aggie, Senator Jeff Wentworth is also up for discussion in Austin.

Last week, more than 100 University of Texas students marched to the capital in opposition of the proposed legislation. Some students there questioned, if concealed handguns were allowed on campus it would make a panic situation, worse.

 

[bwdilli]

I do know that the UH Student Government Association is having a debate this Wednesday (April 29th) over this very subject. With the current news of the murder of a homeless man committed by a student, I would hope that the point might be driven home. They won't be able to keep their "It will never happen to me" attitude. If you have not seen the article on the murder look here.

I plan on attending the debate to lend support to the ability to carry concealed on campus. I'm not a current student, but do have my application in to begin grad school there in the fall.

 

[jfrey]

Unfortunately, there are stupid people everywhere, even at A&M. It ain't the old school I attended. These anti fools would have been put in their place in no time and no questions would have been asked. Same old sarah brady whine and bed wetting liberals every time.

 

[Deer Hunter]

Jfrey, yes, this campus has its fair share of antis, but it's nothing like that college down the road...


My name is Nicholas Kennedy, by the way. I was one of the people they interviewed.

 

[JKimball]

Way to go, Deer Hunter! I hope you guys have a real shot at getting some good legislation passed on this.

We feel the school shouldn't have the right to tell us we can't defend ourselves,"

I thought that sentence sounded awkward when I read it. But then I checked the video, and sure enough, you were misquoted, assuming they were quoting the clip from the video.

Good luck!

 

[Deer Hunter]

Yeah, a slight misquotation, but nothing as bad as what the local college newspaper does to us.


The senate is deciding on monday on the topic. We are sending representatives of the SCCC to Austin. Keep your fingers crossed and maybe write your senators!

 

[armedandsafe]

The following isfrom an article I wrote in 1994.

During the latter half of the nineteenth century, the towns and villages in the West were generally safer than the cities in the East. This was so despite the fact that almost everybody in the West went armed at all times. It was common, even past the middle of the 1900's, for restaurants and cafes to have a rack just inside the door for customer's hats, coats and guns. Children were taught to handle guns safely and to respect the people around them, because they might get shot to rags if they got too far out of line. Bandits and desperadoes were dealt with harshly and usually hid out far from civilization because the average, domesticated town would and could rise up in arms against them. A large town could be controlled by a single Sheriff or Marshall and a deputy or two, not because these men were so good (many of them were), but because the towns-people would back them up with armed assistance.

Americans with guns are dangerous. They are also safe!

Pops

 

[wyocarp]

There are often comments made about the "wild west" but most dont realize that the wild west was much safer than most of our cities today.

 

[runrabbitrun]

I think the people are beginning to see the light.

IMO
The TRUE terrorists (extremists, nut jobs, wackos,)
in this country and ARE
those who want to disarm us
so that we may become slaves to a tyrannical government.

I think we are seeing a shift in political wind.