The Campus Carry Movement Stutter-Steps Across America

[jpak]

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2011/05/the-campus-carry-movement-stutter-steps-across-america/237915/


This year alone an astonishing 20 states have seen "guns on campus" bills introduced. Seven have failed.


Last October, an email popped into my inbox from Mike Stollenwerk, co-founder of gun rights networking hub OpenCarry.org, which boasts the motto, "A right un-exercised is a right lost." He was responding to a question I had about the possible re-tabling of a bill in the Texas legislature which would, if passed, allow students to carry handguns with them to college.

At the time, only Utah allowed the carrying of concealed weapons into the classrooms of public universities, while Colorado left it up to the colleges themselves to decide. Stollenwerk wrote: "My bet is that there are a fair number of college students and faculty members across America who, after the Virginia Tech murders, have decided to regularly carry loaded concealed handguns to class even when it violates college administrative rules ... I hope campus carry is legalized in Texas soon."

But faculty members weren't as keen on their students packing heat during their lessons as Stollenwerk thought they might be. Last month, just as state senators were ready to send a bill to allow handguns on campus to a final vote, University of Texas (UT) Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa wrote a public letter to legislators saying the gun bill was a bad idea. And he had the public support of both the UT Faculty Counsel and Texas A&M University Faculty Senate. The result: the bill stalled in the Texas senate, lacking the two-thirds of votes needed to get it on to the floor.

But Sen. Jeff Wentworth, the Texas Republican EDIT: MORANwho authored the bill, was persistent, and yesterday he managed to get it tacked on to a piece of education finance reform legislation which passed the state senate.

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[WatsonT]

1. What do you suppose will happen

should these bills pass?

Daily shootouts in the quad? High noon duels to settle grade disputes? All out civil war between the graduate students and undergrads?

[jpak]

2. GOP gun legislation - it sucks

yup

[WatsonT]

3. So . . . . the actual results you suppose will happen

that make it suck?

[rl6214]

16. Prohis stooopid post-it sucks

[Name removed]

9. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[WatsonT]

11. And the evidence that this would degrade higher education?

Did you go to college?

If so are you aware of the concept of the "scientific method"?

[Hoyt]

15. Members of the Young Republicans/TBaggers will be toting on campus. How nice?

[rl6214]

17. Any student eligable to carry will be carrying on campus. How nice.

Your statement is stupid.

[WatsonT]

18. Seriously? That's it?

You gone from daily gun battles and blood flowing in the streets to "people I dislike may use this right".

Well pack it in folks, the anti-gun argument has completely collapsed on itself. Pick up a souvenir quote book on the way out (yes they really did calim *that*, that one too, I know it's crazy right?)

[ileus]

4. Why oppose students carrying life saving devices?

[rfranklin]

5. That's Republican style labeling from their alternate universe...

Clear Skies Initiative...No Child Left Behind...Putting America to Work...

[jpak]

6. NRA Newspeak Fail

guns kill

yup

[WatsonT]

7. So does alcohol. Ban all alcohol consumption by college kids over the age of 21!

[ileus]

10. yes guns kill people...

[RSillsbee]

8. I thought good DUers check before posting

there are already two threads on this subject running.

Unrec for not being a good DU citizen

[jpak]

12. There should be 50 - or more

yup

[Kurska]

13. So you're spamming topic, but is good spam because it is important.

Wonderful.

[beevul]

14. Stutter-Steps? Naw. just taking a break, catching its breath.

It will be back to a full speed run shortly.