Post by Christa on Mar 13, 2009 17:39:46 GMT -5
www.thepittsburghchannel.com/news/17922895/detail.html
Students Push To Carry Guns On Campus
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus Want Guns In Class
PITTSBURGH -- Would you allow your son or daughter to room with someone at college who carries a gun?
What about students carrying concealed guns on campus for protection? It's an issue taking place at a college near you.
"The only time it is not on me or with me is when I'm going to class," said one University of Pittsburgh student of his weapon.
"Carrying concealed. If you are carrying concealed, then no one even knows you have the gun until you need to use it," said another student who also carries a gun.
These Pitt students are part of "Students for Concealed Carry on Campus," a university-sanctioned group with about 100 members at the school and some 34,000 members nationwide. The group has more than 300 chapters in 50 states made up of students, faculty, parents and individuals who all believe in the right to carry a concealed handgun on campus.
"People get scared whenever you hear of a gun on campus. But you can walk down the street and have a gun. But once you step on the sidewalk on campus, you can't. I don't see the difference," said member Mark Sabatini.
"This is not the gun lobby. This is not the NRA. This is just students getting together and doing what's right," said SCCC president Sam Gupta.
In April 2007, a Virginia Tech student shot and killed 32 people on campus in the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.
Less than one year later, five people were killed and more than a dozen wounded when a former student opened fire on the campus of North Illinois university.
"Just slowing the gunman up would have saved lives, made him think twice, turn around. Who knows? Maybe he would have taken his own life immediately once he faced resistance, " said SCCC member Colt Templin.
"Stopped? No one can say. Prevented? Again no one can say. But would it have improved the odds, definitely," said Gupta.
Still, the thought of regular students walking around campuses with concealed weapon for the sake of security isn't sitting well with everyone on campus.
"If they have a legal permit they should be able to, but I personally don't understand why they need to have a gun," said student Pam Bender.
"Kids on campus, we're younger. People drink a lot. College kids tend to be irresponsible and do stupid things," said Aliyah Furman, another opponent to guns on campus.
"I don't think it's safe. I don't think anyone needs guns. I think it causes more problems," said Danielle Aaronson.
Robert Hill, the University of Pittsburgh vice chancellor for public affairs told Channel 4 Action News, the university is reviewing the matter. Since it's a new issue, Hill said the university is not in a position to give comment while the matter is under study.
Currently 38 states ban weapons at schools. In the other states, the law allows each school to formulate its own policy.
Last year the University of Utah was forced by the state Supreme Court to allow licensed students to carry concealed weapons.
To obtain a license to carry a concealed weapon you have to be 21 years old.
SCCC members said they don't expect Pitt to change its policy during their student days, but they feel good about bringing this debate into the open.
Students Push To Carry Guns On Campus
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus Want Guns In Class
PITTSBURGH -- Would you allow your son or daughter to room with someone at college who carries a gun?
What about students carrying concealed guns on campus for protection? It's an issue taking place at a college near you.
"The only time it is not on me or with me is when I'm going to class," said one University of Pittsburgh student of his weapon.
"Carrying concealed. If you are carrying concealed, then no one even knows you have the gun until you need to use it," said another student who also carries a gun.
These Pitt students are part of "Students for Concealed Carry on Campus," a university-sanctioned group with about 100 members at the school and some 34,000 members nationwide. The group has more than 300 chapters in 50 states made up of students, faculty, parents and individuals who all believe in the right to carry a concealed handgun on campus.
"People get scared whenever you hear of a gun on campus. But you can walk down the street and have a gun. But once you step on the sidewalk on campus, you can't. I don't see the difference," said member Mark Sabatini.
"This is not the gun lobby. This is not the NRA. This is just students getting together and doing what's right," said SCCC president Sam Gupta.
In April 2007, a Virginia Tech student shot and killed 32 people on campus in the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.
Less than one year later, five people were killed and more than a dozen wounded when a former student opened fire on the campus of North Illinois university.
"Just slowing the gunman up would have saved lives, made him think twice, turn around. Who knows? Maybe he would have taken his own life immediately once he faced resistance, " said SCCC member Colt Templin.
"Stopped? No one can say. Prevented? Again no one can say. But would it have improved the odds, definitely," said Gupta.
Still, the thought of regular students walking around campuses with concealed weapon for the sake of security isn't sitting well with everyone on campus.
"If they have a legal permit they should be able to, but I personally don't understand why they need to have a gun," said student Pam Bender.
"Kids on campus, we're younger. People drink a lot. College kids tend to be irresponsible and do stupid things," said Aliyah Furman, another opponent to guns on campus.
"I don't think it's safe. I don't think anyone needs guns. I think it causes more problems," said Danielle Aaronson.
Robert Hill, the University of Pittsburgh vice chancellor for public affairs told Channel 4 Action News, the university is reviewing the matter. Since it's a new issue, Hill said the university is not in a position to give comment while the matter is under study.
Currently 38 states ban weapons at schools. In the other states, the law allows each school to formulate its own policy.
Last year the University of Utah was forced by the state Supreme Court to allow licensed students to carry concealed weapons.
To obtain a license to carry a concealed weapon you have to be 21 years old.
SCCC members said they don't expect Pitt to change its policy during their student days, but they feel good about bringing this debate into the open.
