Campus Law Enforcement Weighs in on Conceal Carry

As a concerned parent, RUOK APP on the smartphone would be a great solution.

Kerry, if you want some statistics how concealed carry has worked since May 2007, go to the Violence Policy Center’s website. They report that concealed permit holders have killed 11 police officers and 286 civilians since then. They summarize the specific cases so you can decide whether this is a solution or just a distraction by the gun lobby.

Criminals are still going to carry guns. Criminals are still going to shoot other people. Concealed carry benefits women the most.

Mac’s blog allows posting one Web link per comment before the anti-spam mode kicks in so here is a fun one, with a couple of sources cited:

http://www.everycowgirlsdream.com/righttocarry.html

This is really the key, “Concealed carry laws deter crime because they increase the criminal’s risk of doing business.”

Take a look at the Web site for “60 Minutes” at cbsnews[dot]com and the story of Beckett Brennan. About 95% of rapes on campus do not get reported, which means there are at least thousands more women getting raped on campus than what shows up on the crime statistics. The “60 Minutes” story clearly spells out why rape is under-reported. When people look at concealed carry on campus, they best not forget to consider what it could do to deter the number of rapes.

Stephen-Yes we do live in a dangerous society. The great problem is that those with criminal intent usually don’t bother with background checks or permits. Just like many realize they don’t need a drivers license or insurance to freely operate a motor vehicle.

Regarding concealed carry, whether civilians have military style weapons is not the issue. Rather, it is whether society at large is civil. Lately, some are often not. Fortunately, there are many more still civil enough to refrain from armed confrontation over general issues. Unfortunately, a few students at schools think they should settle their grievances with weapons in an offensive way and without previous warning.

For those, especially those who would shoot up an entire classroom or college campus, I think a few steady and very well trained armed young people in their midst might even the odds. Its a horrifying concept, I admit. But so far campus administration and security forces do not have a good record in stopping these kinds of crimes/events. Perhaps a well know but random armed defense could change that.

Again, I am open to suggestions. If you or anyone has real statistics that show good or bad results of concealed carry, especially on campus, I’d like to read them. One would think if it is so bad, with so many other states allowing concealed carry, there must be statistics. Please point me to them if you know of something specific.

Until the concept has been proven otherwise, I will remain guardedly optimistic concealed carry may turn the tide toward civility rather than depravity.

I am glad that the pro gun proponents of this law have recognized that we have a dangerous society. Could it be that we don’t have sufficient backgrounds checks for gun owners? Or that we have loose rules at gun shows that allow unqualified people (mental patients and felons) to purchase weapons. Could it be that because politicians are afraid of the gun lobby, they have allowed civilians to possess military weapons? Our problem isn’t that enough people aren’t carrying weapons, it is that too many are. Concealed carry isn’t going to address the real problem. There are also documented cases of concealed carry persons using their weapons in the commission of crimes. Are these people going to get near our government leaders with their weapons? Haven’t we had enough assassinations in our country?

“ICLEA feels that they were hired to protect the lives of their students, faculty and staff.” Are they the only ones that can protect others? Does not history prove they need some help?

This is a tough topic. But let me ask a question. How many times has a member of campus security or local police stopped an active shooting on a college campus? What I read and hear tells me the perpetrator usually ends it by taking their own life after killing many victims. Campus police often arrive on the scene too late.

While I would much prefer concealed carry be practiced without alcohol or drugs on campus, that probably won’t happen. Still, if a law were passed in Illinois to allow concealed carry in Illinois (like allowed in most other states), perhaps the same law would mandate significant training and disallow any permitted conceal/carry firearm owner from having such weapon on their person if drinking or otherwise under the influence.

So many other states lawfully allow concealed carry. Why have we not heard horror stories about increased problems as a result? I’m certainly open to suggestions here. Its clear to me the existing system has failed to protect too many fallen victims. If someone has statistics on how concealed carry (especially on campus) has harmed someone, I’d sure like to see those numbers.