Posted on 03/06/2011 4:10:08 AM PST by marktwain
Let me first state, in no uncertain terms, that I love guns. I think guns are awesome. I own them, I use them, I like them. I think that the Second Amendment is great and I believe that you have the right to own a gun. Guns are cool. Go guns.
That said, I hope that I never have to see a gun used at Purdue. There is no place for concealed weapons on a college campus.
OK, let's back pedal. There has been a lot of talk and controversy about a piece of legislation going on in Texas which would prohibit college campuses from banning guns. Similar bills have been introduced and shot down in 23 states since 2007 (see what I did there?). Texas gets a bad rap for being a state of backwards, intolerant gun-nut cowboys, and not every bit of that is undeserved, but even the Lone Star State should "steer" away from this bill (stay with me, folks.)
I believe that everyone has the right to protect themselves in any way necessary, but mixing college and guns would bring nothing but trouble and tragedy.
The main argument made by people who support the right to carry guns on campus is in regards to school shootings. If some psycho wants to go on a shooting spree, they may think twice about it if they know that their victims can start shooting back. Maybe the tragedies at Columbine, Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois could have been diminished or avoided if the students and teachers were all packing heat. I myself have often thought "Man, if I were there, and I had a gun, maybe I could have stopped that bastard." Everyone wants to be a hero, and everyone wants to see bad people punished for doing bad things, but all the hindsight and good intentions in the world can't prepare you for what another person might do with a gun.
A college campus is just no place for guns. There is too much stress, alcohol, hormonal imbalance and general insanity. There's a saying that "guns don't kill people; people kill people," and that's absolutely true. Do you know what there are a lot of around campus? People. People who could kill other people a lot easier if they have guns.
Two shootings have occurred while I've been at Purdue. The first one happened when some guys jokingly pointed a loaded gun at a friend, and it went off accidentally. Another one happened when an argument outside a night club turned violent. Alcohol was involved both times. Would adding more guns into the mix have made these events turn out better?
Even if everyone carrying a gun goes through the background check, the three day waiting period, all the required paperwork, permits and training, something will eventually go south. The tension and paranoia would build and build until something or someone finally snapped.
Think for 15 seconds about all the people you've met and known on campus who you don't trust with a loaded weapon. Think about the drunken frat boy who wants to start a fight with anyone wearing red and white. Think about the friend in engineering who's having a nervous breakdown from three term papers, two senior design projects and a group presentation. Think about the girl crying and screaming about her boyfriend breaking up with her. Think about practically anyone else. Now put a gun in everyone's hands and think about how safe you feel.
OK, another scenario for you. Some psycho pulls a gun in the middle of a final exam and pops off a couple shots. Someone else goes to stop the guy from hurting anyone and takes him out. Another person turns to see the second guy gunning someone down, and pulls on him. The cops arrive on the scene and find five people pointing guns at each other. Who gets taken down? My guess is not just the original shooter.
Like I said, I think that you have the right to defend yourself in any situation that your life is threatened. I think that it's an incredible freedom that we have as Americans to own a gun. When the zombie apocalypse finally happens, I hope to hell that I can put some lead into some undead, and actually, I'm kind of looking forward to that day. However, until that day comes, keep the guns at home.
Tyler Figg is a senior in the College of Technology. He can be reached at opinions@purdueexponent.org.
The .357 SIG provided a self-defense cartridge close in performance to a 125 gr .357 Magnum, but from a semi-automatic pistol with greater ammunition capacity..
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Both my Sig Sauer P229ST and P226ST can be chambered for all three calibers shown above.
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Utah is the only state to allow concealed carry at all public colleges/universities, by prohibiting public colleges/universities from creating their own restrictions.
Show me where there has been a rash of shootings at colleges and universities in Utah, then I might be willing to hear what you have to say.
I am somewhat prejudiced toward wheelguns, but could be convince to go "semi".
Thanks for the suggestions. I will add them to the "list of ones to study.
That is precisely the case (and part of the reason for my qualifier question in the original post). Squantos and others (you included) have been excellent sources of info. I have seen an article in the NRA mag (American Rifleman) on the cartridge fairly recently (I think late last year), but didn't garner the details given in the responses here from that article. I'm pretty sure there is at least one "true" .357 magnum semi-auto, but I gathered that it was "unusual" and a rarity.
Again, thanks to all who responded.
The first statements in this article proves the author is an absolute liar. If a person is so pro second amendment and pro gun, there is no way they could make this statement.
“There is no place for concealed weapons on a college campus.”
That would be the Coonan.
Linky: http://world.guns.ru/handguns/hg/usa/coonan-e.html
An acquaintance of mine has one, though I've not had the pleasure of shooting it.
>>>Like I said, I think that you have the right to defend yourself in any situation that your life is threatened.
You (the author) most certainly did not say that. The entire article was about being defenseless on campus.
Air Marshalls carry as their duty weapon a .357 Sig semi auto. It is not a magnum, of course.
We used to have deer hanging from the frat house trees during Bow season, many of us were armed.
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