Carrying Concealed Handguns

By: Beisenbay Mukhanov

            There is no shadow of a doubt on the fact that gun control is one of the most controversial issues in the U.S. Recently, even current American president has tried to stick the government control over the sale of firearm. However, because of the strong position of gun lobby, Congress continued to listen to their arguments instead of the points of the proponents of new gun control legislation. Therefore, nowadays many adults may buy handguns and carry them in different public places without any restrictions. At the same time, while some states allow faculty and students to carry firearms on campus, carrying handguns at school is prohibited in others. The following essay explains what was written on the reporter’s blog on February 5^th, 2010, regarding to the legalization of guns on campus in Arizona.

            The reporter of ABC News on Campus Lindsey Reiser writes on her blog that although the majority of universities in Arizona do not allow carrying concealed handguns, it might be legalized because the state senate is considering the appropriate bill which would give faculty the right to bring guns to school. The author marks that State Senator Jack Harper is the main supporter of this bill, and it is not first attempt to move this bill through the state senate. Furthermore, Reiser notes that Daniel Crocker, Southwest Regional Director for Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, another supporter of the foregoing legislation, who also argues the extending of this bill to students said that his organization with 44,000 members is one of the largest student rights union in the U.S., and they support any legislation which might extend the right to self defense. They believe that “trained, licensed, and law-abiding adults” should have the right to carry firearms on college campuses as well as on other public places. After that, the blogger provides the other side’s position. According to a list created by the Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus, over 100 public schools in 23 states are against the legalization of gun carrying on campuses. Andy Pelosi, director of the campaign, states that campuses are safe places and gun permit in school would only make them more dangerous. In addition, Reiser mentions media law professor Joseph Russomanno who said that allowing faculty to carry handgun would not make current situation better, instead this would make a campus less safe. The author also says that students in Arizona have varied responses. She illustrates the view of a student who fully supports the aforementioned bill and the opinion of another one who asserts that if professors will be allowed to carry handguns in school, students should have the same right too. In the end, the blogger gives information that currently, carrying concealed handguns on campus is allowed in Utah, and at Blue Ridge Community College in Virginia and at Colorado State University.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/lifestyle/2010/02/arizona-may-allow-faculty-to-carry-guns-on-campus/