vanphillips
New member
Re: College Campus Carry
I was asked, as a retired Professor, a question by a Purdue student about my thoughts on the Indiana firearms restriction on college campuses. After the exchange I asked Luke (and the student) if he would like me to open the issue for broader USA Carry discussion. Follow the question and the comments below.
I was asked, as a retired Professor, a question by a Purdue student about my thoughts on the Indiana firearms restriction on college campuses. After the exchange I asked Luke (and the student) if he would like me to open the issue for broader USA Carry discussion. Follow the question and the comments below.
ack8910 said:I'm currently studying at Purdue. As a former professor, what are your thoughts on students, faculty, and staff carrying on a college campus?
ack8910 said:
ack8910:
Your question is not simple to distill into a two sentence reply.
1st - As you are most likely aware, college campuses tend to be populated by risk adverse employs. Purdue, with its strong Ag, Engineering and Science background, is better than most about anti-firearms attitudes. But I can tell you - as both an NRA and 4H shooting Instructor and back then a faculty sponsor of the Purdue Trap Team - I was hugely outnumbered even at PU.
2nd - I was a big supporter, early this year, of legislation to make firearms restrictions at the state level be "the law" everywhere in Indiana. IT PASSED and became law on July 1, 2011! That means that if you know the Indiana law about where you cannot carry a firearm - it will be the same wherever you travel within the State. To me that is a really big deal as I don't want to break some "local" law that I had no way of knowing. Illinois is a good example of different fractured firearms laws and in some places you can even have different laws on each of the four corners of an intersection!
3rd - To get the law mentioned above you have to give a little to get a lot. So, putting PU aside for the moment, remember that "state" means every technical college, college and university in Indiana (IU, Notre Dame, Ball State, IVY-Tech, nursing schools, etc, etc, etc) and their collective voices made opponents of the law use restriction on campuses a key to moving the bill forward. But remember, the opponents are also the ones who believe that law enforcement can respond quickly enough to stop an attack on your person!
All that being said - I believe a few people who were armed would have made the number of murdered and wounded at Virginia Tech fewer. Unlike law enforcement, those who were trapped in offices and classrooms knew exactly where the shooter was at any given moment. Phone alerts and campus cameras can help, but they won't neutralize a person intent on killing.
BUT - and it’s a big "but" - I was perfectly willing to make campuses off limits - to guarantee my right to a CCW - by not having that right removed because of some local law which is used against me. Remember being convicted of even a Class D felony will forever remove your right to own and/or carry a firearm.
BTW - just so you know - I'm also in favor of requiring training and proof of ability to obtain a Concealed Carry Permit. Lacking that and a picture on your permit is why 13 states who honor Kentucky's CC Permits - do not honor ones from Indiana. Look carefully at the map Luke has provided on USA Carry!
My preference would be to have my CC Permit be honored nationwide. And, my hope is that you will have that right for the rest of your life - even if that means not having a weapon on campus.
ack8910 said:Thanks for your input. I was just wondering what someone who's been in the same situation feels. I've noticed that trend with our permits. I, too, would rather have a little bit more obligation before receiving a permit if it meant more rights.
Thanks again.ack8910 said:Do you care if Luke posts this (campus carry) for the larger group to consider?
ack8910 said:No problem.