There are many state legislatures currently floating the idea of arming those student over the age of 21 and professionals within the "state universities".
Hmm. Let's think about this for a moment. How many of you, myself included would be willing to send your 17 or 18 or 19 year old, to a campus knowing that the upperclassmen could be carrying guns in the classroom or for that matter anywhere on campus?
If you willingly put your child in that situation, would that not be child-endangerment? The child, if 17, would still be a minor. Actually, just stop and think if you would be willing to put your child in a situation where there is a possibility that they could be caught up in a gun-fight. Would you send your child to that school? Didn't think so.
What I find interesting about most of these bills, is that they only allow guns on State sponsored Universities. That makes me wonder - How many of those legislators have children actually going to public universities? Probably not very many. See, they can probably afford to send them to private institutions of higher education. Places where their children will be safe. Yet, they are willing to put your children in dangerous situations.
Something else to consider: When your child is in a classroom and there is someone bent on shooting the place up, that someone has the element of surprise in their favor. Surprise that will freeze your child and everyone else in their tracks, just long enough for that person to squeeze off the rounds they want to and do the damage they want before your child would have time to react and pull their own gun.
Even if the professor showed that they were armed; if they had to turn to one side or turn their back to the audience for a moment, that would be all the time the shooter would need to wreak the havoc and take out the threat in the front of the classroom. Not a pretty scenario is it?
Again, I ask you, would YOU be willing to send your child into this environment? I would bet that even the most rabid gun enthusiast, would not be willing to put their child in this type of scenario on a daily basis.
Think about this. A large portion of the student population at Public Universities, come from out of state and pay out-of-state tuition. There is also a portion of that population who come from out of this country in search of the best education they can receive. They in turn pay a higher tuition. That tuition helps fund the institution. Most recently, to a larger degree, with all the state funding cuts. If Public Universities lose that out-of-state and out-of-country tuition, then there would most assuredly be a hike in in-state tuition to offset that loss in revenue as well as the possible loss of teaching and support positions due to reduced enrollment.
This in turn means less money in the local economy. Which in turn means less money going to the state in tax revenue, which in turn means less money going to the public universities, and well...you get the picture.
So, still think arming 21 year-olds is a good idea? Still think arming professors is a good idea? Institutions of learning are supposed to be safe havens. That will no longer be the case should laws such as these be passed.
Ask your legislator how many of their kids or grandkids they would be willing to send to a public institution should these types of laws be passed.
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