Students Need a Campus Safe From Guns

By Shamus Williams

In the course of the past year, the debate about gun control in the state of Virginia has intensified. On my campus, it has been even stronger, with both sides hotly discussing whether students should be allowed to carry concealed weapons on campus.

Shortly after the Northern Illinois University shooting on Valentine's Day, it came out that the online gun dealer who supplied Seung-Hui Cho also sold Steven Kazmierczak some gun accessories. That revelation caused an extreme amount of anguish on campus.

When the news broke, students all over Virginia Tech were talking about it. The opinions revealed how polarized our students are on this issue. Some were outraged that such a thing could happen. Others vehemently agreed with the gun dealer, who said he wishes every college student would be allowed to carry a gun on campus to prevent further shootings.

Personally, I come down on the side of those who don't want more guns on campus. No one but law enforcement personnel should be allowed to carry a concealed gun on school grounds. Weapons of any kind have no place on a college campus. A college campus is supposed to be a safe haven for learning. Guns and weapons would only be a hindrance to that process.

I do not believe that the ability to carry a concealed weapon on campus would prevent a mass shooting. The only thing it would do is cause chaos: Students would not know whether a shooter on campus was aiming at innocent people or trying to bring down another shooter. Many more innocent lives could be lost.

As the debate over gun control rages on, we should work to promote an environment in which students feel safe on campus -- from shooters, stalkers and any other kind of violence.

By Amy L. Kovac |  April 15, 2008; 8:27 AM ET  | Category:  Shamus Williams
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