<p>First off, the topic of CCW on campus is NOT about the proliferation of firearms. Allowing CCW on campus would not be arming anyone. It would be removing a restriction for people who are already armed and allowed to carry. The people who have CCW permits ALREADY have firearms and carry them elsewhere safely (0.02% of Florida permits are revoked, for example–a 99.98% success rate is VERY good, IMO).</p>
<p>Secondly, do you have any evidence to support your claims about gun proliferation? The handgun supply in the US does not correlate with suicide or homicide rates. As to accident rates, I have not reviewed the data, but I will give you the benefit of the doubt in saying negligent discharges will increase (although they do not make anywhere near a 3:1 ratio with stopping-crimes!). Estimates for unintentional gun deaths range from about 600 to 1400 per year (depending on which agency you ask). Estimates for the number of DGUs range from 700,000-2.5million per year…which means that a firearm is 500 to 4167 times more likely to stop a crime than accidentally kill somone. Negligent discharges are largely avoidable by following the 4 basic rules of firearm safety. That makes it an education and training issue, IMO.</p>
<p>“The founding fathers made many comments on firearms and public safety.”</p>
<p>Absolutely and entirely false. The SOLE reason they gave (and discussed at length) was so that a militia could be raised to fight tyranny, including the tyranny of their own government. But that’s okay.</p>
<p>A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercises, I advise the gun. While this gives moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise and independence to the mind. Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks.
— Thomas Jefferson to Peter Carr, 1785. The Writings of Thomas Jefferson, (Memorial Edition) Lipscomb and Bergh, editors. </p>
<p>“Laws that forbid the carrying of arms. . . disarm only those who are neither inclined nor determined to commit crimes. . . Such laws make things worse for the assaulted and better for the assailants; they serve rather to encourage than to prevent homicides, for an unarmed man may be attacked with greater confidence than an armed man.” – Jefferson’s “Commonplace Book,” 1774-1776, quoting from On Crimes and Punishment, by criminologist Cesare Beccaria, 1764 </p>
<p>“[A]rms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property. . . Horrid mischief would ensue were the law-abiding deprived of the use of them.” – Thoughts On Defensive War, 1775
Thomas Paine </p>
<p>“Arms in the hands of citizens (may) be used at individual discretion…in private self-defense…” 1788(A Defense of the Constitution of the Government of the USA, p.471) -John Adams</p>
<p>The Constitution shall never be construed…to prevent the people of the United States who are peaceable citizens from keeping their own arms.
(Samuel Adams)</p>
<p>Yes, and I also realize that inherent rights are not based on what century you live in. None of those quotes are rendered invalid by time, as they reflect principles. Time does not render the Bill of Rights invalid. The 1st, 4th, and 5th Amendments do not fail to protect our rights because they are old…the same goes for the 2nd.</p>
<p>Notice the word “never” in the last quote. The Bill of Rights was meant to protect certain rights from temporary majorities and tyrannical government, otherwise we would see a “rule by mob” mentality.</p>
<p>Is there any reason not to change the Constitution if it is proved to be over passed by modern life? As brilliant as the writers of the Constitution were (including the BOR), I’m not sure they envisioned many of the changes modern society underwent since their time.
IMO, I don’t mind preserving the 2nd, but to extend this to schools… it’s shear lunacy!
I’ve read most of the comments above, but since you’re one of the proponents of having guns in schools, please give one example of how do you see this applied practically? In a way that is safe to non-gun owners/bearers and the general school environment. Please include here middle and high schools too.</p>
<p>The founding fathers would definitely be angry at how large the government has become! They did not even want a standing military, which is probably the most accepted branch of government power, today.</p>
<p>Simple, 48 states already have CCW laws. Extend them to the current “gun-free zones.” The practical system is already in place. The issue is the states and schools are restricting carry rights.</p>
<p>I could say, “Don’t infringe on the right to keep and bear arms,” but I have the feeling that you would view that as the most insane stance in this thread…even referencing the past quotes. The notion that “no free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms” has been completely rejected by increasingly statist views.</p>
<p>You don’t “extend” the 2nd Amendment. “Shall not be infringed” is not something you can really expand.</p>
<p>OK, I’m not sure they’d like the country without any army. But that’s another discussion. This one is taken care of anyway in the past 4-5 years, since most of our army is deployed. And according to some, it might be out-of-the-country for the next 100 years. Maybe there’s another reason behind not having the army around home?! Same with your mentioning of “The Bill of Rights was meant to protect certain rights from temporary majorities and tyrannical government…”?!</p>
<p>So, your solution to school violence is to extend “concealed weapons”. Fine, but how I as a student, would carry a ccw on campus? In my backpack? In my jeans’ pockets? In a holster attached to my ankle? If we take the concept out of the classrooms, how will you deal with dorms, frat houses, other public places that are out of the immediate control of school administrators?</p>
<p>Basic logic tells me that the weapon should be readily available just in case. That implies carrying it as close to your hands as possible. And loaded, of course. How?</p>
<p>Political and military considerations for a standing army have changed. It is widely accepted that an all-militia army would not be able to accomplish what is demanded in to day’s environment. I’m not saying a standing army is a bad thing, just that the founding fathers were concerned that one could be used incorrectly (they would probably not approve of the foreign involvement we have).</p>
<p>CCW on campus is not a complete solution. I think it should be allowed, and has the potential to limit the damage done by a shooter. CCW will not prevent all mass shootings, but it might prevent some and shorten others. I’ll again use the New Life Church shooting as an example. The attack was brought to an end by an armed volunteer, before the shooter could get to the main crowd and before police could respond.</p>
<p>As to methods of carry, they vary widely. There are backpacks with quick-access holsters built in. There are pocket holsters. Some people carry with ankle holsters or shoulder holsters.</p>
<p>When we consider dorms and housing, if the gun is not in the control of the owner, it should be locked. For some, a trigger lock will do. Others (most?) prefer safes or lock-boxes (which is the most secure method.</p>