Concealed carry on campus
In the wake of several shootings on college campuses, a number of groups are seeking to allow legal carry of firearms on campus by carrying concealed weapon permit (CCW) holders. Allowing qualified students and faculty to carry guns on campus will result in increased safety.
A common misconception is that if guns are legally allowed on campus then it will increase gun violence. There are already 11 college campuses in the U.S. where carrying a concealed handgun is legal (nine in Utah, Colorado State and Blue Ridge Community College in Virginia), but you don’t hear about daily shootings or mass murders there. If someone is going to use a firearm to commit a crime on campus, they won’t care that it is illegal to have a gun with them. The problem with “gun-free” zones is that a law-abiding citizen will not have a firearm while a criminal will.
If CCW holders were allowed to carry on campus then only CCW holders could legally have a gun on campus. This means that they would have to have completed a State approved CCW course, involving a written test and a test for accuracy that also confirms one’s ability to safely handle a firearm. There must be Sheriff’s approval, a criminal history and mental evaluations check must be passed and fingerprints taken.
It is also statistically shown that CCW holders do not typically commit crimes. For example, in North Carolina, from 1995-2004, only 0.2 percent of the 263,102 CCW holders had their license revoked. Even the most simple of crimes can cause revocation so it is obvious that those with CCW’s are very unlikely to commit a crime.
People often say they would feel unsafe if guns were allowed to carry on campus, but CCW holders are already legally able to carry a concealed handgun many places, including right across the street from campus. What would make a rational law abiding citizen suddenly a dangerous person just by crossing Hillsborough Street onto campus?
On Jan. 16, 2002 Peter Odighizuwa, a former student of the Appalachian School of Law, went on that campus and opened fire on students and faculty — killing three and wounding three others. When Odighizuwa went to leave the building he was stopped by two students who had retrieved firearms from their cars upon hearing gun shots. The two students, along with an unarmed student, then subdued Odighizuwa, preventing him from doing more damage. This is just one example of how firearms in the hands of law-abiding citizens can be a major benefit to society.
If a student was legally allowed to carry a handgun at Virginia Tech or Northern Illinois University, the shooter could have been stopped. Tragedies like these demonstrate that, in a true emergency, the police will be unable to arrive in time to be of much help and the average citizen should seek to be more prepared and self-sufficient.
Luke Sirakossenior, statistics
Use proper tact
Normally, I’m proud to call myself an N.C. State student. After our not-so-stellar performance in the political arena Monday, however, I’ve grown increasingly annoyed with the fact that more often than not, there are a select few bad apples that make the rest of our bushel a lot less appetizing. Regardless of your own personal political leanings, the fact that Chelsea Clinton visited our campus was a huge event. Surely everyone knew that this would at least briefly put NCSU in the national eye. How is it, then, that all over the major news outlets and (respected!) political/opinion blogs (MSNBC, Associated Press and Wonkette to name a few) I have seen negativity? To doggedly ask a question about the Monica Lewinsky scandal was tactless, rude and ultimately overshadowed the more important things that were brought up in Chelsea Clinton’s talk. I would certainly never ask a fellow student about their parent’s indiscretions; why, then, would it be a good idea to ask anyone else?
Caitlin Cauley sophomore, English
Choose plant foods over animal bodies
The March 31 viewpoint article by Catie Pike, “Animal conditions better than expected” was nothing more than propaganda for an industry that profits off the breeding, confinement and slaughter of animals.
It is well documented that animal agribusiness does not care about the welfare of individual animals. If some animals die because of abusive and cramped conditions, it does not matter because the overall number killed will be higher (due to greater density), leading to more profits. The bottom line is all that matters in this industry.
Humans have choices and are capable of deciding what actions to take based upon morality. We can make the ethical decision to choose plant foods over animal bodies (flesh) and their secretions (milk, eggs). Considering the fact that we can all be healthy on a plant-based diet, to continue to bring animals into the world simply to be exploited and killed for food is unnecessary and unjust.
Let compassion and justice light the way: opt-out. Visit www.GoVeg.com to learn more.
Brandon Beckersenior, sociology
