Replies

I thought post these *progressive* responses from the Austin American Statesman. Show the extreme fair and balanced approach the paper exibits.

Notice the guy’s name in the last letter. LOL!

Guns on campus

Last week I sat through an hours-long Public Safety Committee meeting concerning legislation that would allow guns on college campuses in Texas.

I learned that pretty much all public and private institutions oppose this legislation. I learned that more than 90 percent of violent crime against students happens off campus. I learned that our elite military academies, West Point and the Air Force Academy, do not allow anyone to possess firearms on their campuses. I leaned that this same legislation was defeated everywhere it was introduced in 2007 and 2008. It had not passed in any states this year. Oklahoma and Virginia have defeated it twice in two years.

This legislation is trying to solve a problem that does not exist. One can only hope that the Public Safety Committee listened and will say no to the gun lobby on this legislation.

Guns on college campuses is a dangerous idea.

Marsha McCartney

North Texas Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence

Dallas

Re: March 20 article “Bills would allow guns at college.”

I disagree with lifting the ban on handguns. To do so is unnecessary and would not be in the best interest of university student bodies. Research has shown that to do so would have little to no effect on crime deterrence.

If allowed to carry handguns on the premises of academic institutions, it is highly likely that license holders would interfere with respondents in the uncommon event of a violence issue involving guns.

College campuses have a unique environment with high stress levels and problems with drug and alcohol abuse. These differences could potentially lead a normally sane person to commit a heinous crime if allowed to carry a concealed handgun. Lifting the ban would introduce unnecessary danger and fear among college students.

Lauren Williams

San Marcos

We surely do not need anyone waving a pistol around in a bar, and we also don’t need immature, reckless students carrying a weapon into classrooms at our schools. Nor do we need legislators and lobbyists promoting manufacture and sales of any kind of weapons.

It appears that we have a few lawmakers being spurred on by lobbyists to enhance gun makers’ interests.

Reliable reports reveal that more than 300,000 Texan concealed-gun permits were active last year, which means that at least that many handguns were made and sold. Let those who violate existing laws suffer the consequences

Remington Webster

Austin