A bill that would allow college students to carry guns on campus is expected to be debated by the full House today, where it will be opposed by at least two members of the Lafayette delegation.
"Making guns more available on campus is a knee-jerk reaction to recent tragedies," says independent state Rep. Joel Robideaux. "Although the person carrying the weapon may feel safer, having a campus full of guns does not provide the same level of comfort for teachers, students, and university employees and visitors."
In a story published Sunday in The Daily Advertiser, State Rep. Don Trahan, a Republican, also said he opposes the measure.
Despite objections from campus police, other law enforcement and higher education officials, the House Criminal Justice Committee voted 11-3 to allow college students to carry guns on campus. The committee members voting against House Bill 199 by Republican Rep. Ernest Wooten of Belle Chasse (the committee chair) were Barbara Norton, D-Shreveport; Roy Burrell D-Shreveport; and Republican Frank Howard, a retired Vernon Parish sheriff. Acadiana legislators voting for it were Elbert Guillory of Opelousas and Mickey Guillory of Eunice, both Democrats.
"I can only imagine how a faculty member would feel standing in front of class, wondering if any of the students were possessing a concealed weapon," Robideaux says. "The Legislature needs to consider the safety and concerns of everyone, and I will work toward getting this bill defeated."
The issue of allowing students to carry licensed, concealed handguns on campuses comes in the wake of college shootings across the country, including recent incidents at LSU, where two international students were murdered, and Louisiana Technical College in Baton Rouge, where the shooter killed two classmates before turning the gun on herself.
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Remember, under this bill, you would have to be over 21, a non-felon, take a training course, be able to handle your weapon, and pass a background check. There will be no flood of guns on campus, as passing these requirements is not like getting a drivers license.
"I can only imagine how a faculty member would feel standing in front of class, wondering if any of the students were possessing a concealed weapon," Robideaux says. "The Legislature needs to consider the safety and concerns of everyone, and I will work toward getting this bill defeated."
I'm an adjunct professor. First of all, 90% of students aren't over the age of 21. So I am only worried about the seniors and grad students. Secondly, I am not going to worry, I am just going to ask "Hey, anyone with a concealed carry permit see me after class". That way I know who is legit.
Most people knee-jerk react with a concept of students as drugged out, drunken, crazy people. I say "No, that's the faculty and campus police". Do you think a student is going to snap and pull a gun on a professor because he/she didn't get the grade they wanted? Do you think a student that crazy is going to bother with a permit?
Since Louisiana legalized concealed carry weapon, very few people have actually applied for and received a CCW. A couple of thousand. What makes you think it would be any different for campus.
Making a campus a sacrosanct weapons free zone means that when a crazy person shows up with an AK47, a thousand rounds of ammunition, and a really cool leather horse-coat, he has got a campus full of targets, targets that are almost certain not to shoot back. Then he can kill a bunch of people before the police can get there.
Sheepdogs were developed to look like sheep, live amongst the sheep and keep an eye over the sheep. When wolves showed up and attacked the sheep, some of the "sheep" bared their fangs and fought back. Wolves tended to stay away.
If you think a 21 year old non-felon isn't responsible, maybe we need to rethink allowing them to drive a ton of steel at 70 miles per hour. We can give an 18 year old a uniform and a "fully" automatic weapon and send them to war knowing they will be responsible. Kids go out and hunt without killing everyone in sight. I think statistically swimming pools kill more people than handguns. Automobile accidents definitely do.
As they showed in 2001 A Space Odyssey, "Thighbones don't kill monkeys, monkeys kill monkeys".