Will Concealed Guns on Campuses Stifle or Promote Violence?

The Texas government is no stranger to controversy. With its stance on the death penalty and now the concealed  carry on campus bill making its way through the legislature, Texas does not shy away from tough issues. Given recent events such as the Virginia Tech shooting and the gunman on UT campus last fall, concealed weapon rights have been pushed to the forefront.

Senator Jeff Wentworth, a Republican from San Antonio, when at first unable to get the votes to pass the proposition as its own bill, attached it to a university spending bill and it has since achieved momentum. (In March, 2011 the bill passed in the Senate) The bill will essentially allow gun license holders to bring their guns to campus, as long as they are concealed. Proponents of the bill cite personal protection and the right to bare arms as liberties which would allow students and faculty to protect themselves from an armed assailant on campus.

While I recognize the potential benefits of concealed carry on campus, I am in fervent opposition to the bill. The solution to dealing with gun violence is not to add more guns to the situation. As a student who was in lockdown for four hours on the UT Austin campus when a sophomore ran through campus with an automatic weapon,  I can say that due to the confused nature of the situation and fear in the students, guns in the classroom would've only made things worse. Some students were panicking, and if they were to have a gun, who would know how they'd react if a professor or police officer walked through the door. Furthermore, the UT police secured the entrances and exits to the classroom and made me feel safe without a weapon of my own.

Additionally, student stress and anger could lead to a mental breakdown, and if guns are more prevalent on campus, violence could actually increase. Alabama professor Amy Bishop's actions are a prime example of what the concealed carry law could lead to. (The Examiner)

To combat the argument that the concealed carry law would give students an opportunity to defend themselves during a shooting, it would in fact only pertain to a portion of the student body. The minimum age requirement in Texas to obtain a gun license is 21, and most freshmen and sophomore students would not be of age.

Gun violence on college campuses is tragic and saddening, but a concealed carry law will not make these events any less probable. The Texas legislature should focus more attention on funding mental health programs at universities, and work to strengthen emergency action plans and train campus police to respond to these specific scenarios. A college campus can never be truly safe, but a concealed carry law is not the solution.

Background information from:
The Huffington Post
The Horn