Guns: friends of foes?
Students promote concealed weapons on campus
Kleppinger, Ben
Issue date: 9/6/07 Section: News
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Davis said he believes the class teaches people how to be responsible with their guns and when it is appropriate or inappropriate in the use of guns. A one-day class isn't going to work miracles though, he said.
"It's not going to turn them into a police officer overnight," he said.
Allowing concealed carry wouldn't flood the campus with guns because only 1.5 to 2 percent of people have a concealedcarry permit, and you must be over 21 to apply for one, Davis said.
"It really wouldn't be that many people that would have [a gun] on campus," he said.
And Davis said gun-free zones like Eastern's campus are good targets for criminals. "Allowing people to carry guns on campus would mean criminals wouldn't know who had a gun and who didn't," he said.
But others expressed different views.
"I think that's sort of a load of crap," said Caity Placek, president of the EKU Green party.
Placek said gun-free zones do not attract criminals, and many times criminals will use people's own weapons against them.
"There are alternatives for defending yourself that wouldn't require allowing guns on campus," Placek said. "I just think if you learn karate or something you can defend yourself if a person has a gun and (you can) get it away from them," she said.
Jerry Coriano, president of EKU Democrats, said allowing guns on campus would lessen his feeling of security.
"If I knew that students had concealed weapons I would feel actually less safe," he said.
And Coriano said he doesn't think allowing guns on campus is necessary to maintain campus safety. "I don't think there's really a need for that, only because of all the police officers that are on our campus."
Coriano said there are other ways to prevent violence on campus.
"I think keeping a close eye on the students and their behavior is more of a defense against violence on our campus," he said.
Davis said he knows people disagree with him, but he doesn't hear much from them. "They will get on Facebook and flame you, but I've not had a lot of complaints," he said.
Davis said the public's attitude toward allowing guns on campus is the biggest obstacle Students for Concealed Carry faces.
Placek disagrees.
"I think it's a terrible idea. I just don't see how fighting violence with violence is an effective way to solve anything," she said.
"It's not going to turn them into a police officer overnight," he said.
Allowing concealed carry wouldn't flood the campus with guns because only 1.5 to 2 percent of people have a concealedcarry permit, and you must be over 21 to apply for one, Davis said.
"It really wouldn't be that many people that would have [a gun] on campus," he said.
And Davis said gun-free zones like Eastern's campus are good targets for criminals. "Allowing people to carry guns on campus would mean criminals wouldn't know who had a gun and who didn't," he said.
But others expressed different views.
"I think that's sort of a load of crap," said Caity Placek, president of the EKU Green party.
Placek said gun-free zones do not attract criminals, and many times criminals will use people's own weapons against them.
"There are alternatives for defending yourself that wouldn't require allowing guns on campus," Placek said. "I just think if you learn karate or something you can defend yourself if a person has a gun and (you can) get it away from them," she said.
Jerry Coriano, president of EKU Democrats, said allowing guns on campus would lessen his feeling of security.
"If I knew that students had concealed weapons I would feel actually less safe," he said.
And Coriano said he doesn't think allowing guns on campus is necessary to maintain campus safety. "I don't think there's really a need for that, only because of all the police officers that are on our campus."
Coriano said there are other ways to prevent violence on campus.
"I think keeping a close eye on the students and their behavior is more of a defense against violence on our campus," he said.
Davis said he knows people disagree with him, but he doesn't hear much from them. "They will get on Facebook and flame you, but I've not had a lot of complaints," he said.
Davis said the public's attitude toward allowing guns on campus is the biggest obstacle Students for Concealed Carry faces.
Placek disagrees.
"I think it's a terrible idea. I just don't see how fighting violence with violence is an effective way to solve anything," she said.