Posted on 05/29/2009 5:16:08 AM PDT by marktwain
PITTSBURGH (AP) - Colleges nationwide have unconstitutionally barred students from handing out literature, protesting and gathering in support of the right to carry weapons on campus, students and an advocacy group say.
Christine Brashier, a freshman at the Community College of Allegheny County near Pittsburgh, said a dean recently told her she had to stop distributing fliers for the group Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, which has chapters at many colleges, and destroy the pamphlets she had designed.
"I won't be forced into silence. I just wanted to start a student organization. I didn't think it was going to get this much attention," Brashier said. "It only got this attention because they stopped me. People don't like to hear about suppression of free speech."
Brashier is licensed to carry a concealed firearm but doesn't take it to school because CCAC, like most colleges and universities nationwide, does not allow weapons on campus. Some states explicitly ban students from carrying weapons on campus, while others - like Pennsylvania - allow the schools to set policy.
But since April 16, 2007, when Seung-Hui Cho went on a shooting rampage at Virginia Tech University, killing 32 people and injuring 17 before turning the gun on himself, more students have been advocating for the right to carry guns on campus, and state lawmakers have been tackling the issue, as well.
As a result, more universities and colleges have suppressed the rights of students to organize, said Robert Shibley, vice president of the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit following the cases and writing letters protesting them.
FIRE has not taken any cases to court, but Shibley said the group has not ruled it out. FIRE's philosophy is to work with the universities to get them to independently change their policies.
(Excerpt) Read more at apnews.myway.com ...
Glad to see FIRE is at lease involved. There are some other civil rights groups that I could see not being as interested in protecting this speech.
my daughter is taking a speech class. mostly liberals in there of course. someone made a speech about gun restrictions and the consensus was the students wanted the choice to carry, wanted info on the NRA.
"We believe that it would be disruptive to the campus environment for people to be walking around with gun holsters," Darovich said.
Why are they afraid of clothing apparel? Nose and lip piercings are far scarier than an empty piece of leather or fabric hanging of a belt. Are cell phones not allowed on campus either? This is ignorance at its worst.
With regards to the universities "fear" of anything related to guns...It is the right of the people and precisely the reason for free speech to be able to "inform" other citizens, students and faculty. Ironically, if this group were demonstrating about certain sexual freedoms or lifestyles gay/lesbian/bondage/animal/etc), it would be considered distasteful and offensive but be protected as free speech none the less. Why are guns so taboo? Ignorance and fear. Everything is offensive at a university. Universities are fine with things of offensive nature as long as it supports some freedom they are familiar with. Fear on the other hand, is disruptive. Ignorance is the base of fear.
Here are students trying to raise awareness and educate their peers and citizens about: 1) Constitutional rights 2) Hand held machines designed to fire lethal projections in defense of ones life 3) Certain Free Speech conditions imposed by academia.
It is their plight that is sought to be quashed. Meanwhile, groups can form and demonstrate to support partial birth abortion, legalized drug use, rehab for sexual predators, black power, etc. What is the purpose of these groups plight? How is it different? What is dangerous about empty holsters? Without weapons, they are simply pieces of apparel.
Many years ago, I took a speech class in a similar environment. I confess (brag) to being an excellent public speaker. I gave an influential speech about public education and the need for the states to run their public schools exclusively. A debate started during the following question and answer period. The debate became mainly between me and the prof. I received a C for the speech. The next female to deliver a speech was nervous and started crying in the middle of her speech and could not finish. She received an A.
When I approached the professor about the grade disparity, I was told her grade is none of my business and we should not be discussing our grades. I kept at it and received a D on my next speech. Several students joined me about my grades to defend and question the grading system. We were told that our grades reflected individual performance based on perceived potential. That is why several weaker students with horrible public speaking abilities were getting higher grades. My potential was higher. I never received a grade better than a B in that class for a speech. I ended up with a C in the class. Then I was asked if some of my research material and notes could be used for teaching materials in future classes. I told her no. I don't know why she would want to use such "mediocre" work as an example.
Not that it matters now, but I learned an early lesson about academia and liberal roots. I credit this class and that prof to my ardent political beliefs today.
Wasn’t the NRA going to step in in matters like this ? Their deafening silence lately has been disappointing me at an ACLU-level.
Make the guns Pink. Then it will be okay.
Yes, the ACLU is much more interested in creating “situations” whereby their Stalinist vision of social change can be brought about, rather than protection of liberties.
Don’t get me started on the ACLU.....To late.
AMERICAN CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION - Protecting (or inventing) the rights of foreign terrorists captured on a battlefield.
ACLU - Protecting the rights of Athiest to have religious freedoms impeded
ACLU - Protecting the rights of women to use abortion as birth control
I hope you have sent the professor a thank you note.
My son took a few classes at the Community College level. Having similar problems, I told him to lie like a dog and tell the prof what he wants to hear. I did the same darn thing. Got A’s all the time.
Did not compromise my beliefs remained true to myself and got the grades. the prof’s probably thought they had brainwashed me, NO. They are the fools
I have a client with a large contract (company saving at this point). He is a staunch liberal and Obama ally. He wants to always talk politics. While I have never conceded my values or principles, I often find that he is less supportive of the governments policies than you would originally think. We agree on the over spending and lower taxes.
He is a client so he gets my best at everything. If he were most other people, we would likely have had some good debates about politics.
BTTT!
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