Guns on campus?

This has always be a question that has given rise to a great deal of thought, not to mention high emotion, and heated argument.

Should guns be allowed on college campuses in Arizona? The Arizona Regents recently voted to oppose 2 bills which would have allowed properly qualified students and faculty to carry concealed firearms on campus. One those present, Regents Vice Chairman Greg Patterson is quoted as saying "My fundamental concern with both bills is this is our jurisdiction"

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but doesn't that not really give a useful opinion either way, it merely says "this is my turf"?

This will never be an easy subject, and it's very difficult to remain emotionally detached when thinking about the issues, when those at risk are children, and the vulnerable, and there are certainly arguments on both sides that have merit.

But I would suggest that to say I am against guns, and therefore there should be no guns in colleges to defend the people using those facilities belies the fact that guns exist, the genie cannot be put back in the bottle, and people who wish to harm others can and do from time to time, get possession of a firearm, and set out to hurt the innocent.

To ignore that fact, and to stick to a position of "I don't like guns, therefore they should not be allowed into the hands of those who would use them to defend my loved ones" is akin to not teaching a child to cross the road, because you believe cars are destroying the planet.

You could be right, you might not be right, but the FACT is that guns, and cars exist, and sometimes, innocent people need to be defended from both.


Your thoughts?

Regents vote to oppose guns on campus bill