There have been numerous school shootings in recent years and they have brought the gun control debate to the forefront of the public sphere. One major question that has emerged from this conversation is: Should concealed handguns be allowed on college campuses? This paper will argue that handguns should not be allowed on college campuses because: handguns diminish the safety of the students and faculty on the college campus, there is virtually no need for handguns in secure places of learning, and handguns could accidentally discharge.
The primary reason why concealed handguns should not be allowed on college campuses is that the presence of handguns on college campuses diminishes the safety of the students and faculty present on the campuses. This is not to say that the gun-carrier is a threat to the campus or to the student population. In all likelihood the gun-carrier is licensed and has experienced some rudimentary gun training. However, the presence of a handgun on campus opens up the campus to the potential for violence. It is entirely possible that the gun-carrier’s concealed gun could be misplaced or fall into the wrong hands, the hands of someone who intends to commit an act of violence. If an act of violence occurs on the campus, a popular argument and rebuttal is that only a good guy with a gun can stop a bad guy with a gun. However, there is no proof that the majority of concealed handgun owners are capable or reliable in situations or extreme duress. In all likelihood, the concealed gun owner is a common citizen with little to no experience in gunfights and shootouts. This is not the type of person one would want returning fire in a crowded area. This is to say that the presence of a concealed handgun is likely to only increase the amount of violence on college campuses.
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"Should Concealed Handguns Be Allowed On College Campuses?".
Another reason why concealed handguns should not be allowed on college campuses is that there is virtually no reason to have them. Colleges are educational facilities. These educational facilities, whether public or private, are typically, for the most part, isolated from the outside world in the form of a cohesive campus where like-minded individuals live in a sort of sectioned social landscape. Grouping like-minded individuals in an isolated area with the overarching objective to learn and study creates a safe environment, and the purpose of handguns is for protection from violence. Thus, there is no reason to carry a concealed handgun, or any handgun for that matter, in a place where violence is not a major threat. Further, these institutions employ security and local police to protect the campus community against violent acts and other crime. These security workers and police personnel are trained to handle extreme and sometimes violent situations. Therefore, if the college campus is already a safe place, in comparison to the outside real world, and hosts trained personnel who are able to protect the campus, there is no reason to allow handguns on campus.
Finally, it is possible that the concealed gun could be fired by accident. In the same vein as the above reasons listed, the unexpected discharge of a concealed handgun is a real possibility and would only disrupt an otherwise peaceful environment. Imagine students sitting in philosophy class hearing a gunshot blast in the adjacent classroom. Panic would set it. Neither the students nor the faculty would know the gunshot was an accident. Further, the students and faculty in the classroom where the gun discharged may be in serious danger.
Concealed handguns should not be allowed on college campuses. There is no reason to have them on campus when security personnel and procedures already exist. The presence of handguns only increases the likelihood of violence. Finally, even if all precautions are followed, it is still possible that a concealed handgun could accidentally discharge and injure someone.
