Before I enter the "Semi-Rant Zone," here's a news article that should catch you up to speed if you didn't know what was happening/happened/whichever. (For the people of the future)
"Bills would allow guns at college"
OK, I'm all for safety when it comes to a madman on campus with assault rifles, but this has to be one of the stupidest ways to prevent it (Note: "one of", give me time and I'll think up of more stupid ways). Are these people thinking in the least of what the consequences are? Let me list some of the ones I can think of (That means both good and bad).
First off, if allowed, this would mean that just about anyone could walk on a campus and go unnoticed for a long amount of time (unless we up police/security personnel). The only indicators of the person being a potential threat is if they seem unnaturally nervous for a college student/professor or someone recognizes that they are not a student/professor. Already I have turned this into a fear fest' for those in favor of the bill, but be silent and sit back down until I'm done, please.
The second consequence is that in case there is such a shooting, there will be a minimal loss of life (I see the bright side of things don't I?), maybe. First factor in that guns versus guns typically ends up being a 50-50 chance of you surviving and wounding/killing the attacker. Fists versus guns... Yeah you're screwed, provided that no one else is around you and the gunman is just randomly gunning people down (Never said this was going to be pretty). In a group (large, hopefully) the best option is to listen to the gunman if he is taking hostages (Hopefully) or if they are randomly gunning people down, rather than wait to be shot (provided police aren't there or won't arrive in time) rush them and stop them before even more are harmed.
Gah... This is coming out more like a survival guide, rather than an editorial. Using this moment, let me explain my reasoning for my survival instructions.
Firstly, this bill/idea will not end the shootings. It may deter people who are not willing to go up against an armed group, which is the idea, however those who are crazy/suicidal enough will have no qualms and in fact may do this simply because of the damage it could cause (Meaning more than now).
Secondly (continuation of the "Second consequence"), these people probably don't care what they're aiming at, while you do. Despite needing a license/permit (To be honest, I don't know how you acquire one in Texas) to carry a gun, you may not be able to shoot another person, even in self defense. This causes a problem, either you won't shoot (effectively making the gun useless in your hands) or you will, and not aim at the person in an attempt to scare them which hits someone else, though unintentional. Unless you can use a gun properly, meaning aim and can shoot someone intentionally without mental trauma, this is a losing situation.
Finally, why give us guns? Couldn't we just find some way to up all campus security? Though we are the masters of our own domains, most of us couldn't defend ourselves properly. And though I may be able to say what I think is a good way to defend myself and others, but there is always another way to do things (Meaning heed my advice, but talk to a professional for better ways).
To finish, I care about the lives of others (I may never seem like it though) and to be honest I hope a bill like this will never pass until it is absolutely needed. If you want us to be safer, invest in mental health research and more police officers (who are competent). Prevent the problem from reaching us before we have to deal with the bloody mess.
