Can guns stop crime?
Concealed-carry advocate thinks gun ban is a risk to student safety
Kristin Snowberger
Issue date: 10/9/07 Section: News
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Senior Brint Hahn, the campus leader of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus at the University of Akron, disagrees with legislation that prohibits individuals from carrying concealed weapons on college campuses.
"I'm not saying everyone should have a gun," he said, adding, "just responsible gun owners."
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC) is an organization that seeks to change laws so that students and faculty members can carry weapons on college campuses. It is not affiliated with the National Rifle Association or any political party.
Approximately 85 schools are currently represented by student leaders in the United States. Ten of those are located in Texas. Eight are in Ohio.
According to the SCCC Web site, the organization believes that the presence of weapons on campuses will make them safer.
"After such tragedies as Columbine and Virginia Tech, it is abundantly clear that the only way to stop mass murderers is to have responsible citizens in the classroom and on campuses able to carry their licensed handguns."
Concealed weapons are prohibited in a number of places, such as churches, day-care centers, government buildings and bars.
But Hahn thinks the notion of concealed carry on campus might get support from the community, in light of the recent reports of crimes against students. Those who prey on students might not be so quick to do so if students were protecting themselves, he said.
"The best deterrent is a community that can protect itself and is willing to do so."
Interest in concealed carry on campus has spiked around the country since the Virginia Tech shooting, Hahn said, although he is quick to point out that there is no real way to prevent such an incident.
However, he firmly believes that students should be able to protect themselves in the event something like that occurs. If students were allowed to carry weapons, Hahn pointed out, there is a greater chance that a situation such as the Virginia Tech shooting could be diffused more quickly.
Hahn realizes that some people consider concealed weapons on campus a radical idea. That's understandable, he said, for people who haven't been around guns or are not familiar with them.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 41
Alex
posted 10/09/07 @ 10:05 AM EST
sadly most of these universities have very liberal admin. who think that stopping crime on campus is done by disarming police officers and civilians alike. (Continued…)
Pythias McCummerbun
posted 10/09/07 @ 10:39 AM EST
I've always found it remarkable that those who oppose concealed carry on campus would rely, instead, on pulling out a cellphone and calling for the help of MEN WITH GUNS!!! (the Police -- and as quickly as possible, please!!!) when they were confronted by a criminal. (Continued…)
Pete from Idaho
posted 10/09/07 @ 1:01 PM EST
Good luck to SCCC in their quest to remove the "victim rich environment" signs (aka "gun free zone") from college campuses. Keep in mind that you are in the heart of the leftist, GFW (gun-fearing wussy) world. (Continued…)
mahye
posted 10/09/07 @ 7:30 PM EST
if you put a flock of birds in a pen and taped their wings down and turned a pack of dogs loose on them what chance would they have . school is the same . (Continued…)
its me
posted 10/09/07 @ 7:33 PM EST
Actually anyone injured or killerd on a college campus be a beserk gunman should file a law suite or have one file be the deceased representative against the school. (Continued…)
Big Magnum
posted 10/09/07 @ 7:40 PM EST
There is a reason there is almost no crime on Utah campuses.
Spook
posted 10/09/07 @ 8:14 PM EST
I'm all behind SCCC. I won't go into any business that does not allow concealed carry. I sure wouldn't attend a college campus that doesn't allow me to defend myself and allow a criminal to flock shoot. (Continued…)
John
posted 10/09/07 @ 9:16 PM EST
Campus gun bans should be retained! Why? Because they work so well. No criminals ever violate these bans by taking a gun on a campus, so everyone there is always safe. (Continued…)
Hardtarget
posted 10/09/07 @ 9:38 PM EST
University administrators who prohibit students, faculty & staff from carrying concealed handguns for their own protection are the cause of tragedies such as the Virginia Tech mass shooting, plain and simple. (Continued…)
HH.45
HH.45
posted 10/09/07 @ 10:45 PM EST
Society is always safer when criminals don't know who's armed. And the more armed solid responsible citizens the better!
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