Posted on 07/17/2009 11:52:36 AM PDT by Miztiki
I don't know what the solution is to prevent another Virginia Tech massacre from happening. I don't know how to keep students safe from a nut intent on killing people. I'm all for teachers/professors and students being allowed to carry, but it does raise some legitimate concerns. I also know that people would want to overregulate the whole dang idea, and that would result in increased costs for someone.
I just need some inspiration so I can write this essay.
This is a start:
http://ccwsaveslives.blogspot.com/
I vote yes.
Why don’t you start by trying to articulate precisely what “legitimate concerns” are raised by the State agreeing NOT to restrict law-abiding, adult, citizens from exercising their God-given right to self-defense simply because of their geographic location?
What legitimate concerns does it raise?
“If guns are banned why are there school shootings?”
People who follow the law follow it.
People who don’t follow the law don’t.
Amazing.
Bear in mind that one has to be 21 years old in order possess an handgun or to be considered for a concealed permit, so for the most part the undergraduate population isn’t eligible anyway. One might ask, as I did, why the law should be different between on-campus and in-town; in short, if the university really thinks it is accomplishing anything by “gun-free zone” policy other than affecting the law-abiding. Inasmuch as it is a civil right, the question isn’t really “why should it be permitted?” but “on what basis is it being denied?” IMHO, of course.
...page 31 and others
Utah does not ban CCW holders from carrying on campuses-you might look into that.
I think it’s very difficult to prevent random acts of violence.
In a Rogerian Argument, you try to persuade your opposing audience by respecting (not offending) them and acknowledging their legit POV’s, then politely trying to persuade them to your side.
One POV is that college students tend to party, and guns in the dorms could quickly turn a regular fight into a gunfight.
Another is potential lawsuits.
Another is for those who absolutely oppose guns on campus and refuse to attent or teach there.
Another is the added cost of evaluating and re-evaluating those with guns, regulating it all, etc.
I need to hear other opposing viewpoints so that I can acknowledge then refute them, respectfully.
You need to tie in that it is not a perfect world. In a perfect world, we would have peace and no bad guys. In this world, the good guys need to carry to stop the bad guys. It is a deterrent when they think others will be able to shoot back.
I do too.
Thank you for your thoughtful reply. I’ll use the age factor in my essay.
Thank you so much!
Unless the school is willing to concede that their alumni are not adequately prepared to become police officers, military officers, deputy sheriffs or federal law enforcement agents, they have no argument that their students of legal age are not mature enough to exercise the right to carry.
Soooo currently, do those regular fights turn into knife fights? Surely there are knives in dorm rooms. Why are those regulary NOT used then?
Phoney baloney. 100,000,000 americans own guns, the only ones that get into gunfights are criminals and those defending themselves against criminals. College no different, back in the early '60s when I went to college lots of people had guns in their rooms. never a gunfight on campus. Unless you postulate that human nature has changed, which it hasn't, then no reason for gunfights
Give It To Them Straight, by John Ross. This writer has an extremely powerful ability to cut right to the moral center of the many angles of attack on our fundamental right to self-defense.
Nation of Cowards, by Jeff Snyder. Once you grasp the falsity of utilitarian arguments against weapons, you will never view the gun control issue in the same way again.
I used both of these works as the basis for various columns, speeches and debates I have participated in over the years. Here'a a tip: When your opponent starts to stammer, get red in the face, or, better yet, start tossing insults -- they have lost.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.