It’s not the guns, it’s the people
For starters, anyone who thinks I’m some hippie peace-lover who doesn’t know what I’m talking about after reading this, let me tell you now that I come from a family with military background. I’ve seen, used and own my own weapons — hunting runs in the family — and have needed to protect myself at a younger age. Now, after reading several of the articles, editorials and forum letters on the subject of the concealed carry issue, I cannot sit back and read any more without throwing in my two cents. It seems to me that a large number of students here at N.C. State, whether for or against concealed carry, are not looking at the problem as a whole.
Everyone complains that they don’t feel safe because anyone at any time could bring a gun on campus and have a go at a little target practice, and therefore they should be allowed to protect themselves. Others say that would just create an atmosphere on campus far more unsafe then before. Both of these points, and all the other arguments I’ve been reading, have some sense to them, but no one is looking at a much better, more plausible solution to the problem: to be better people. Don’t cheat on your boyfriend or girlfriend, don’t make fun of that guy or girl who dresses or talks differently, don’t be racist, be tolerant of other people’s opinions, religious beliefs, sexuality, disabilities and general differences. The day that every John and Jane Doe that wants to carry a gun on campus is allowed to will be the day that you get shot for dating someone of another race, falling in love with someone of the same gender or even sneezing too loudly in the library.
Imagine pondering, when that homeless man on Hillsborough approaches you from afar, whether he’ll ask for change or not. You can’t trust that people will be responsible (CCW license or not) and that accidents won’t happen. You certainly can’t trust that you or anyone who has a weapon will be able, ready or even willing to protect him or herself, let alone you, from a shooter or mugger. The fact is, we need to become better, much more responsible people as a whole. It’s correct that other places allow their students to carry guns, but saying that there are no gun-related crimes at those places because of it is a little shallow minded — like saying that places like Columbine, Virginia Tech and possibly even your local high school were or are completely safe until the worst happens.
Respect those around you, be a better, more understanding and tolerant person and there will never be a need to carry a weapon on campus. I haven’t covered anything about thieves, rapists, etc… but people, be aware of what you do, what you wear, the items you’re displaying and the areas you’re in. Utilize campus resources, like student escorts, before you put yourself[ at risk]. With or without a concealed weapon, let’s not be naive to ourselves and what’s around us.
Rudolfo Salasjunior, electrical engineering
Keep up the good work
With regard to Paul McCauley’s column, “Gun control is not a matter of statistics” in Wednesday’s (April 9) issue, I would like to thank him and the Technician for publishing the article. I have been reading the Technician almost every morning for the last five years, and despite the overwhelming majority of poorly-written Viewpoint columns, Paul’s article was the first about a current issue that I found very impresive. I would like to see more articles that present real evidence with sources that logically support the author’s conclusions — it makes them far more legitimate and thought-provoking. Keep up the good work, Paul.
Alex Pronschinskephysics, doctoral student
Check your logical fallacies at the door
I would like to start with the cartoons that have been printed about the issue of concealed carry on campus. The cartoon from April 7 is nothing more than a slippery slope fallacy intended to incite fear among those who have not been involved on either side of the debate. For those not familiar with logical fallacies, a slippery slope is where it is stated that something terrible will follow the change that the arguer is against, without any argument as to why it will come about that way. In the 21 year history of right to carry laws, the blood has not begun to run in the streets as a result, thus it is illogical to assume that the change spoken of today would result in this.
The cartoon printed on April 8 consists of a straw-person fallacy, that is, a fictitious, distorted, misrepresented or exaggerated position expressed for the purpose of knocking down the argument of the opposition, except that it is not the argument of the opposition at all. No one is talking about giving students firearms, no one is talking about making the school allow firearms in the dorms and no one is suggesting that the normal freshman should be carrying a gun on campus (a ‘normal’ freshman would be one who comes here directly from high school at 18- or 19-years-old). The current law requires permit holders to be 21 years old. The bills that I have supported and lobbied for on this issue include provisions stating that it is up to the school to decide what to do about dormitories.
As for [Charlie] Burnett, on the note about police and ‘taking the law into one’s own hands,’ you state in your April 9 letter that if one wants to help defend the campus, [he or she] should join the police force. However, that is not what we have been talking about, nor have we been saying that a permit holder should seek out an active shooter. These are straw-person scenarios that you came up with, Mr. Burnett. The movement to remove the restrictions on permit holders to carry on campus is not primarily about active shooters or making the campus safer. These are side benefits of the real goal, and that is having the freedom to choose how you go about your life and the freedom to choose how and if you defend yourself in a bad situation.
Thomas Knightsenior, civil engineering
