Get Schooled

By Jeff

August 25, 2008 8:30 AM | Link to this

If a teacher has a valid CCP and is willing to invest in some form of biometric gun safe for their classroom - this one looks good - I think having guns on campus would be a GREAT idea.

Furthermore, if would go so far as to say ANY staff member with a valid CCP that was similarly wiling to invest in a biometric safe.

Note here that my willingness to allow guns on campus is STRICTLY limited to those with valid CCPs to begin with, meaning K12 students would never have them.

At the collegiate level, I say if you have a valid CCP, you should be allowed to carry ANYWHERE, including on campus.

Look at the stats people. 99.99% of the time, it aint the people with CCPs you gotta worry about.

An armed society is a polite society.

By Robby

August 25, 2008 10:28 AM | Link to this

I am 100% pro gun ownership…however I must say if I had my piece with me in class and had a douchbag liberal professor like Ward Churchill, I’d be scared I’d have an itchy trigger finger!

By Michael

August 25, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this

Please remember, those folk who are intentionally going to shoot someone are not overly concerned with whether or not having a gun on campus is legal. We could make all of the rules and laws in the world and it won’t stop the bad guys, but, a .45 Colt from a Ruger Blackhawk in the hands of a responsible citizen will.

By CollegeProf

August 25, 2008 10:40 AM | Link to this

I am actually a gun-control advocate, but I am also a realist. If we are going to allow concealed guns on campus, I think we should limit that to faculty and some of the staff members. I don’t think students should be allowed to bring firearms oncampus.

I know that there are those who favor more guns and argue that more guns will somehow reduce incidents like VT. I don’t follow that logic much, but if we are to follow that logic, maybe even requiring all professors to carry a gun is a way to guarantee that every classroom will have someone with a gun. If we rely on students, then there could be many classrooms without a person with a gun.

I know many of my liberal colleagues would hate this idea, but that seems to be much more logical approach than allowing anyone with CCP to bring firearms to a campus.

By Tony

August 25, 2008 11:47 AM | Link to this

NO. NO. NO. Guns have no place in schools! If this is the kind of “leadership” we will see from our State Senate, then it is time for us to vote them out. We need leaders who will be willing to find funding solutions to schools’ needs. We need leaders who are willing to tackle the social concerns that are preventing students from graduating high school. We need leaders willing to take a stand on raising standards for student learning rather than only paying lip service. We need leaders who will commit to the principle that learning is for all students not just a select few. We need leaders willing to invest time and energy into getting into the schools to see how their ideas are ruining education. We need leaders who think, evaluate situations, and respond with action based on evidence. We need leaders who break from “group think” and make decisions in the best interest of the people they are elected to serve.

We do not need guns in schools!

By Larry

August 25, 2008 11:55 AM | Link to this

Since there is no such thing as a Georgia concealed weapons permit, I’ll bet that’s not what the Senate committee is discussing… unless they’re considering whether guns should be allowed at Georgia’s fictional teacher union.

By Jeff

August 25, 2008 12:18 PM | Link to this

Tony:

Lest you forget, GA was on the school shooting map before Colorado. Heritage High in Conyers ring any bells?

A properly liscenced teacher with a .45 in a biometric safe could have prevented much of that.

And in Littleton, CO, there would be a half dozen more kids just out of college by now.

Heck, if you don’t want to go all-out with actual firearms, at LEAST put Taser C2s in those biometric safes! (That is actually something I would support the State government doing that would actually reasonably secure our schools!) Even some guys I work with down here that are on the area SWAT team say that in close quarters, that C2 is about the best weapon out there if you don’t want to run the risk of lethal force.

By Larry

August 25, 2008 1:46 PM | Link to this

Jeff – the reason your SWAT buddies support the C2 over firearms is because your “properly licensed teacher” with a .45 will likely inflict civilian casualties in a firefight. This is the reason armored carriers that prohibit the use of non-lethal equipment, require their employees to use only controlled expansion ammunition.

Another compelling reason to use non-lethal force in a civilian setting is the possibility of being overpowered and losing your weapon to the attacker. This threat is more real than the public seems to realize, but well know to anyone who has ever spec’ed out a ballistic vest or knows why the FBI uses a 30 degree forward holster cant.

By Erin

August 25, 2008 1:55 PM | Link to this

“Lest you forget, GA was on the school shooting map before Colorado. Heritage High in Conyers ring any bells?”

Jeff, the shooting at Heritage happened AFTER Columbine, not before. In fact, it was one month to the very day AFTER Columbine.

As for guns in schools? I say it’s a bad idea. Say you have an upset 17-year-old, 200-pound male against a petite female teacher, maybe 120 pounds at most. ANYONE really think the female teacher with a CCP and a gun is not going to be overpowered there?

By Jeff

August 25, 2008 2:19 PM | Link to this

OK, so my timeline was off. Point still stands that we’re in that somewhat exclusive group of states with a school shooting that caught national airtime.

And do you know what a C2 does, Erin?

It produces a shock that is stronger and longer lasting than police-issue tasers. Guaranteed to put ANYONE down. Range is about 15 feet. Roughly halfway across any classroom I’ve ever been in.

Admittedly, I’m not an overly large fan of guns in crowded places for the very reasons mentioned by gun opponents - likelihood of collateral damage. But in the absence of strong non-lethal weaponry in a crowded area, I’d rather EVERY adult be armed than just those who would mean innocents harm.

Same idea in private homes. If you don’t have strong non-lethals, I’d rather you have strong weapons of lethal force than none at all.

By blurb-o-mat

August 25, 2008 2:49 PM | Link to this

Bravo, Tony!!

By Erin

August 25, 2008 3:03 PM | Link to this

I wasn’t aware of what a C2 does, Jeff, but does anyone need THAT much firepower in a classroom?

I understand WHY people might want guns in classrooms, but I am just really uncomfortable with the idea of guns in schools … collateral damage is only part of it.

I guess it would be safer if the guns were equipped with safety devices so the ONLY person who could fire it was the owner.

I think the worst part of this whole thing is that we HAVE to have such a discussion at all, really. But since we do, I’d rather it be done as safely as it can be done, if it’s going to be done at all.

By jim d

August 25, 2008 3:28 PM | Link to this

Guins in the classroom huh?

Gee there’s a novel idea to rid ourselves of incompetent teachers.

Maybe teachers could even carry them to all of these dumb @ss meetings they must attend.

I’d bet lunches in the schools would improve as well.

Maybe they are on to something here that really would improve our schools.

By Jeff

August 25, 2008 3:45 PM | Link to this

Erin:

That is the beauty of ECDs (Electronic Control Devices, the formal name for the Taser class of weaponry). The only way you’re going to be seriously harmed is if you hit something on your way to the ground.

In a classroom setting, a good one-two punch would be a C2 and bear spray. Knock them down with the C2, close the distance and put the bear spray in their face. At that point, they are out of commission for a good 15-30 minutes, at LEAST, with no danger of death or serious physical harm.

The biometric safe that I mentioned earlier has enough space for both weapons within it. The specific one that I mentioned earlier is a fingerprint safe that will only open for any one of the 50 fingerprint profiles it is capable of storing in its memory. Ensure that no student is one of those 50, and no student will have access to the weapons stored inside. It even has a battery backup and defaults to locked if no power is supplied. In fact, it is the exact system I plan to get upon learning that T is pregnant.

Fact of the matter is that there are people out there who would will other people harm. Each and every one of the adults with such a mentality was once a kid with the same mentality who was in our schools, probably preying upon the weaker members of their class and getting away with it to a greater or lesser extent. With a C2/bear spray/biometric safe in every classroom, you can at least ensure the physical safety of every student in the school, even if little can be done to control the mental/emotional tormenting.

As long as they are alive, anything can be dealt with. But it is very hard to get over being dead. So hard that only what, 7 or so people in the HISTORY of mankind has been able to do it?

By West Cobb Dad

August 25, 2008 4:22 PM | Link to this

I ask everyone to understand ONE thing. This is a discussion about permit carrying individuals. Someone who is going to go on campus and shoot it up does not care about the law. But, a law abiding, permit carrying, individual DOES have the right to defend themselves. Goes back to Shirley’s wish of the only guns in Atlanta are carried by the police and the criminals.

By Just Asking

August 25, 2008 4:48 PM | Link to this

I’m pro-gun too….but then I begin thinking about government school teachers.

Frankly, I don’t trust most of them to be responsible with guns. And the teachers I do trust are likely teaching in private schools (where guns aren’t needed).

I love the comment from the guy wanting to “find funding solutions” for government schools. Now there’s an idea whose time has come and gone.

Read the recent WSJ editorial about funding Connecticut schools. School expenditures have greatly outstripped population growth. Where new schools are needed, some folks are proposing that students’ (who would attend the proposed school) parents would receive vouchers that would permit the students to attend private school. The cost would be significantly lower while the quality would be better. That’s the best of both worlds. And perhaps there would be money left over to buy a gun.

Wouldn’t that be a great solution? Just asking.

By Dan

August 25, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this

We are talking about colleges here, except for a few exceptional younger students. College campuses are filled with adults, there is zero logical reason they should have different rules than the rest of society. Lets not try and promote a overarching agenda by crowing about “childrens” (again 18-22 yr olds are NOT children) safety and the sanctity of school. It is simply an attempt to distract from the obvious fact that if those individuals who worked to obtain a legal permit coule carry on campus it would make it a safer place

By GFL Holder

August 25, 2008 5:03 PM | Link to this

The question “should guns be allowed on college campuses?” is imprecise. The exact question, and what the Senate is discussing, is “should adults who have spent the time and money to prove that they are law-abiding and mentally healthy by applying for and receiving a carry permit be allowed to carry their guns for lawful purposes on college campuses?”

The answer, of course, is “yes”. It will of course remain illegal to hurt or threaten anybody with a legally carried firearm, so anybody who causes any problem is still going to be breaking the law. And those who will break laws about hurting people are already carrying guns on college campuses and other places illegally. Criminals don’t have and aren’t eligible for carry permits, and generally aren’t allowed to have guns in the first place, so a lawbreaker can still be arrested if he is seen with a gun. The only effect of this law is to remove the threat of arrest and prison for a person who has not and is not going to hurt anyone, but merely has a certain type of self-defense tool in his possession.

By Kimber

August 25, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this

I’m really not liking the idea of guns being allowed in more places. Granted, many of the shooters are not legal (although a surprising number are), I don’t think it’s a good idea to allow citizens the same permissions as a police officer. They are not trained to understand when it’s ok to shoot another person, and I feel like we’re heading backwards in our civilization to more of a “wild West” idea of safety.

Even with all the safety classes one could take, there’s always the chance one could become unhinged and start shooting.

We’re heading backwards instead of forwards, and I don’t like it.

By Shake

August 25, 2008 5:46 PM | Link to this

Why was there a mass shooting at VT? The same reason there wasn’t one at Utah State U. A “gun Free” zone is a “killing spree” zone for psychos. Students carry in Utah; no news about blood running in the campus streets, no statistics showing student/ student crime rates going up… nuff said.

Good guys have guns too. Let em’ carry.

By Collegiate GFLer

August 25, 2008 5:51 PM | Link to this

I am a thirty year old student who has passed all the criminal and psychological checks that the state has in place to own and carry a firearm in public. I am allowed to protect myself in public and do not see why I should be restricted on campus. I am every bit as accountable to federal, state, and local laws. If I commit a crime, I will be prosecuted. My perogative is not to prevent happenings such as VT or other public mass murders, but will do so to save my own life. I practice with my firearm for proficiency and for sport. Can anyone tell me why I should be disarmed?

Can anyone show me why a criminal or suspect planning a mass murderer will go through the process of becoming licensed to carry so that he can legally carry a firearm(s)to carry out his mass murder?

By NorthernVisitor

August 25, 2008 6:01 PM | Link to this

What a bunch of uneducated dumb hicks. Your state is the LAST in education and having guns at school seems to be a priority. Stupid hillbillies.

By catlady

August 25, 2008 6:04 PM | Link to this

Please wait until my youngest gets out of grad school before we start having more folks packing heat on the campus!

By Another point of view

August 25, 2008 6:14 PM | Link to this

Guns are needed now more than ever. What our “LEADERS” are trying to say is they can’t protect us so it’s up to the individual. I like that.

As the economy gets worse, and it’s going to get much worse, crime is going to shoot through the roof.

By stephen in brunswick

August 25, 2008 6:16 PM | Link to this

Im all for carry by an average joe that has a GFL. Don’t forget people without a GFL will still carry in these place no matter what the laws states. The GFL can level the field. Look at place like New Hampshire they have no gun control, except for jail and maybe courtrooms. They have no problems there do they?

By Jeff

August 25, 2008 6:36 PM | Link to this

Well Northern Visitor,

You have proved a point I often make. Just like many liberals, when you can’t make a good statement based on fact, you resort to bad language and being rude. It shows your ignorance and lack of communication skills. While I do believe there are many things our state should do to improve, I will never believe that fighting for civil rights is a waste of time, especially when it comes to personal safety. I believe that an armed society is a safer society. Let’s focus on keeping guns from criminals and allow the law abiding citizens to defend themselves.

By Marcel

August 25, 2008 6:41 PM | Link to this

From what I remember, most of these school shootings, e.g., Columbine, Heritage, etc. have taken place in suburban schools. Are these Northside parents REALLY ready for guns in the schools? That’s where is all of this “teen angst” is likely to unfortunately manifest itself into some unfortunate event. Just be careful of what you ask for…

By NICK

August 25, 2008 6:49 PM | Link to this

Yes, it is the only way white students can protect themselves from gangs of blacks that try to rob and rape them.

Maybe if the white student that was attacked by the six black students in Jenna, had a pistol, those animals would have wound up like the thugs that tried to attack Bernard Geotz….

By thomas

August 25, 2008 7:25 PM | Link to this

Oh, for the love of Christ. We really do have some neanderthals in this country. People of low intelligence and intellect. Logic dictates that having a gun at school is of no real use and in fact has the potential to cause greater problems (a student stealing the gun, etc.). But small minded people with a siege mentality jump at the opportunity to try exercise some power. I guess having a gun makes you feel powerful, huh?

And now I hear some fool talking about “white students protecting themselves aganist blacks that try to roband rape them.” When was the last time you heard about ANYBODY being raped inside a public school? This nation is full of sick, uneducated buffoons who need to be in a zoo, not roaming the streets free.

By Tony

August 25, 2008 7:29 PM | Link to this

Just asking said, “I love the comment from the guy wanting to “find funding solutions” for government schools. Now there’s an idea whose time has come and gone.”

I did not ask for more money for schools. I did ask for our elected officials to demonstrate leadership in the areas we have needs.

By Tony

August 25, 2008 7:54 PM | Link to this

One more thing, since the discussion is about carrying on college campuses, wasn’t the biggest college massacre in US history carried out by the military?

By Just Asking

August 25, 2008 7:56 PM | Link to this

Gimme a break Tony.

You first wrote:

We need leaders who will be willing to find funding solutions to schools’ needs.

Then you wrote:

I did not ask for more money for schools.

Is that similar to John Kerry voting for the $86 million before he voted against it?

May I suggest that you change your name to “King of Nuance”?

I’m Just Asking.

By Shame on thomas

August 25, 2008 8:04 PM | Link to this

thomas,

“In one year over 4,000 incidents of rape or other types of sexual assault occurred in public schools across the country (U.S. Department of Education, 1997).” http://www.pcar.org/about_sa/stats.html

You should clean up your mouth and your act.

Blaspheming Almighty God has the most severe of consequences. In fact, the Bible says blaspheming the Holy Spirit is an unpardonable sin.

You don’t have to apologize to man, but you should apologize….

By Margaret

August 25, 2008 8:33 PM | Link to this

NO. Not for teachers, not for staff and not for students, parents, visitors… Are you nuts even having to think about this? With firearms, would there be space in the backpack for books? Seriously, concealed weapons like the teenage girl in Iraq who was wearing an explosives vest? Don’t you see where this is going?

By Margaret

August 25, 2008 8:48 PM | Link to this

Deploy trained guard dogs instead. Much more sensible. Or is it?
Don’t you all think this is WAY inconsistent with the purpose of schools?
Or in words that everyone should understand - we go to school to learn, not to play show and tell with our .357s and sawed off shotguns. And if you think show and tell won’t end up that way - either you have been out of school too long and don’t remember what it was like or you didn’t pay enough attention when you were there. Let’s quit making the Georgia schools such a national laughing stock?

By HS Teacher Too

August 25, 2008 9:08 PM | Link to this

Actually, having lived there, NH does indeed have a concealed carry permit requirement. I know; I carried.

By Tyler P

August 25, 2008 9:24 PM | Link to this

Why don’t we ask the victims and their friends and familyt of Virginia Tech what they think. Criminals don’t wake up each morning telling themselves they won’t carry a weapon because its against the law. Gun control takes protection out of the hands of law abiding citizens, rendering them helpless against criminals. We are like sitting ducks without being armed.

By Bill

August 25, 2008 9:40 PM | Link to this

Well it all depends. If I were attending a mostly white school, like UGA, I would say no. However if it were an all black school like Morehouse, I would say yes. Especially since half of black men carry guns anyway. Even, when they go to “da clubs.” I’ll never get why blacks carry weapons to bars/clubs.

By Tomb

August 25, 2008 9:45 PM | Link to this

I admit I am an old f**t but I took my .22 rifle to school on the school bus, so we learned about them. Never had any incidents at all. We didn’t have nurseries for the illegitimate kids, so their mamas could get an education and collect welfare at the same time. I got a lot of my ethics teaching from the Lone Ranger and his Colt 45”s

By Dave Bob

August 25, 2008 10:48 PM | Link to this

My god, this is even a discussion? Georgia is a backward and stupid state. There is no need for anyone to carry a gun on campus other than a security officer and to introduce other guns is, again STUPID and without purpose.

By PlainHardTruth

August 25, 2008 11:11 PM | Link to this

Its very simple. “Gun Free zones” turn law abiding innocents into sheep. Knowing that other people are packing will cause potential wrong doers to think twice.

I understand that many people don’t like guns. That’s too bad. Guns exist. No laws will eliminate them. Bad people and/or crazies (Not necessarily the same thing) will try to use them is they think they can get away with it. Even if one is insane and is going to go on a rampage regardless, its better to have them stopped as soon as possible by an honest citizen who has access to their gun.

When seconds count, the police will be there in minutes.

By Robert

August 25, 2008 11:40 PM | Link to this

The discussion here is whether GFL holders should be allowed to carry on COLLEGE CAMPUSES, so there is no reason to bring up high school scenarios…

‘Gun-free zones’ such as those at colleges, universities, and public schools do nothing to protect the law-abiding citizens of this state. We have learned from tragic events around the country that colleges and universities aren’t ‘gun free environments.’ While criminals are able to go about and carry wherever they desire because of their lack of respect for state laws, law-abiding citizens who have gone through a stringent background investigation are denied their right of self protection on college and university campuses.

GFL holders are not able to carry onto campus which also forces them to be disarmed and defenseless as they travel to and from campus. House Bill 89 that was signed into law allows GFL holders to carry a firearm onto MARTA, but the second they step onto school property to attend classes they am committing a crime. This means that they are disarmed all day, from the moment they leave their vehicle to the moment they reenter their vehicle at the end of their school day.

By not being able to lawfully protect ourselves at colleges and universities, we are all prone to becoming another criminal victim statistic. Campus carry legislation will lower the crime statistics at all college and university campuses and will allow law-abiding citizens the right to protect themselves in all environments in the state of Georgia. After the Northern Illinois University shooting on March 14th, 2008, Georgia State President Carl Patton sent out a letter to all members of the Georgia State University Community that stated, “Should a similar event happen on the Georgia State campus, we will make every effort to communicate information to the university community as frequently as possible. This will be done through e-mail alerts, loudspeaker announcements, continual postings on the Georgia State Web site, phone trees and alerts relayed through the news media. However, we also remind everyone to protect themselves by sheltering in place and not venturing into harm’s way by leaving their offices, classrooms and housing units until it is safe to do so. What happens if you are one of the unfortunate people that are at campus during a tragic event like the one at Virginia Tech or Northern Illinois? Or what happens if you don’t get a notification or announcement about a horrific event occurring on campus? Georgia Firearm License holders should be allowed to carry onto college and university campuses.

By Gun Smoker

August 26, 2008 12:03 AM | Link to this

Responsible adult students who have gun carry permits should be able to possess weapons on campus. They can carry those weapons, loaded, openly or concealed, in shopping malls, and at fast food restaurants, and regular sit-down restaurants with an alcohol pouring permit. I have not heard of any problem with 21-25 year old Georgia Firearms License (GFL) permit holders shooting up those places, so what makes college students different? Not to mention teachers, administrative staff, custodial staff, etc.

By Omar

August 26, 2008 12:14 AM | Link to this

*By Kimber

August 25, 2008 5:32 PM | Link to this

I’m really not liking the idea of guns being allowed in more places. Granted, many of the shooters are not legal (although a surprising number are), I don’t think it’s a good idea to allow citizens the same permissions as a police officer. They are not trained to understand when it’s ok to shoot another person, and I feel like we’re heading backwards in our civilization to more of a “wild West” idea of safety.

Even with all the safety classes one could take, there’s always the chance one could become unhinged and start shooting.

We’re heading backwards instead of forwards, and I don’t like it.* A GFL does not grant vigilante powers or police authority to anyone. Whoever decides to legally carry a firearm does so for self protection and is responsible for his own actions. If his actions are questionable under the law, he would be exposed to civil and criminal liability. What you are advocating is that honest law-abiding citizens be turned into instant criminals just because they cross into an “off limits” area while otherwise legally carrying their firearm. And none of these “off limits” areas are really off limits for those who are intent on doing harm. I agree that proper training and frequent practice with a firearm is necessary, and I encourage it. But it should not be a government mandated requirement in order to exercise a Constitutional Right. And we, as free citizens of this country, should not have to be “allowed” or “get permission” to exercise a God-given right protected by the Constitution. The government and its agents derive their authority and get permission from us, not the other way around.

By philmarx

August 26, 2008 12:32 AM | Link to this

Vigilance is better than “candle vigils”! The discussion whether police officers are “better trained than armed citizens (or teachers)” doesn’t address the main problem: police officers simply aren’t present when the shooting starts! And to “fight” with a 2-shot Taser against firearms? Is pure suicide. Ever noticed that police uses Tasers ONLY when (armed with guns) backup is available? This fact is rarely mentioned in discussions. Let teachers and faculty members carry, if they wish. It’s no obligation, but an option, which would make a lot of sense.

By ND

August 26, 2008 2:15 AM | Link to this

In general I’m against banning anything, but in this case putting guns in the hands of college students is a bad idea. Too many students are on drugs or have some emotional problem or another (if you think i’m talking out of my a$$, I am currently a college student so I’m talking from experience). I am all in favor, however, of allowing staff members and faculty who have CCPs to exercise their right to carry on campus.

By jim d

August 26, 2008 4:57 AM | Link to this

Two questions for everyone.

1) Am I the only one that read the article?

students who hunt would be allowed to keep their guns and rifles in the trunks of their cars

2) how many school shootings have been committed with hand guns and how many with rifles and shot guns?

By Producer

August 26, 2008 7:04 AM | Link to this

Absolutely guns should be allowed on campus by both teachers and students. The Supreme Court recently upheld gun ownership as an individual right, anyway. The VA Tech massacre could possibly have been prevented by a professor or student with one.

By Darrel

August 26, 2008 7:39 AM | Link to this

Does being a police officer really qualify anyone to carry a gun or make them any safer or better equipped to carry a gun? Sorry, but I don’t believe that to be the case! For example, ask, if you could, the 92 year old woman who was shot to death in her HOME by police officers of the Atlanta Police Department. Should these characters have been allowed to carry a gun thinking the wasy they were thinking? Come on people, being a cop doesn’t make you any safer than an honest citizen when it come to carring a gun.

By Martin

August 26, 2008 8:00 AM | Link to this

There are a lot of police officers who could not qualify for a Georgia Firearms License (which, by the way, allows one to carry either open OR concealed). These are officers have prior convictions for things like possessing under an ounce of marijuana or domestic violence battery. But we give them carte blanche to carry their guns everywhere. Into courthouses, onto college campuses and even in elementary schools.

The gun control movement (if it can still be called that) is just another example of people who want to put all of their trust in the government to protect them and make everything right. The police have no legal obligation to protect you. And even though I believe most cops are honorable and good at what they do, it is simply not possible for them to be there all the time.

The people who scare me are not the ones who get licenses to carry guns. It is the people who think they can rely on some government function for everything up to and including wiping their butts when they go to the bathroom.

Do you really think cops carry guns to protect the public? Think about how often a cop uses a gun to protect SOMEONE ELSE. The gun is a tool for defending the person who carries it. It is not there to serve as a magic wand that the carrier uses to save innocent civilians from the criminal element. Guns may be used to protect and save the lives of others, but the vast majority of the time they are used, it is in SELF-defense. Why should cops have a monopoly on self-defense?

By Brian

August 26, 2008 11:58 AM | Link to this

I have a problem. I am a GFL holder and a student at GSU. I take classes at night and I have to go to five points at night. I am allowed to carry the gun on the Marta but not to class. This place is dangerous. While I would prefer if the police would protect us every step of the way, but that is not realistic. Most of the time we are on our own and there are people who wish us harm. So we are in a position where we have to protect ourselves. We are guaranteed by the constitution the ability to carry arms in the chance of a confrontation. (see DC v. Heller) Seeing from all the school shootings, it is obvious that a confrontation can take place there. Banning guns on college campuses seems to fly in the face of that logic.

The bottom line is that when you create a gun free zone, you create a potential killing field.

By Ed

August 26, 2008 9:27 PM | Link to this

I have a friend that works in the College enviroment and has for over 10 years. GFL holders should be able to carry on campus. With the type of students they now on campuses across the state, no one is safe. No one is safe anywhere anymore.

By Tripp

August 28, 2008 7:17 AM | Link to this

I disagree with the notion that professors and faculty are somehow more important than students at universities. Why would someone support the faculty carrying weapons so that they can protect themselves but not support students carrying which leaves them defenseless? Are students’ lives less important?

Campus carry should be allowed for anyone who is qualified to carry in the state. We shouldn’t discriminate against an entire class of individuals (pardon the pun) simply because they are taking a course. Does that somehow make them less valuable?

Everyone deserves the right of self defense guaranteed by the 2nd amendment. It’s an absurd thought to think that students are allowed to protect themselves only if they choose NOT to go to college.

By Scott

August 28, 2008 8:28 AM | Link to this

I think law abiding citizens who carry the proper permits should be able to carry a weapon for self defense anywhere they feel the need. As many recent events show, the college campus can be a dangerous place. At least, any officer of the law or active military personnel should have the right to carry on to a college campus. I don’t think that by stepping onto a campus, you should give up the right to protect yourself. I believe that any state, organization, facility, community, or place of business that does not allow one to protect themselves, does not think a person has the right to life.

By Jason

August 28, 2008 9:03 AM | Link to this

I expect as always the liberal fools with the fleece over their eyes will expect to be rescued by us gun maniacs again. The day their ever restrictive laws and more tyrannical government gets out of control enough to completely discard the constitution. They’ll sure want to take up arms when they have no liberties. The idea here is it is up to the individual if the law allows. Adding more and more restrictive laws just strips liberties, and is very short-sighted in the long run. The main thing allowing people to carry weapons, not just guns but any weapon that can be lethal, is to deter. As has been said, armed society is polite society. The more that happens, the more the criminals rethink their plans to commit crimes. It works, look at crime stats in places the encourage guns, and those that do not. Opinions do not change facts. Liberals are allowed their opinions, it just baffles me that their opinions lead to less liberty, and not just for liberals. Please, leave my rights alone. Move back to the country of your ancestral origin, I’m sure you’ll like it better there. We do things differently in the USA, we have rights and liberty, please stop taking them away.

By Lee

August 28, 2008 9:49 AM | Link to this

GFL-holding students, staff, and faculty at Southern Poly are prevented from carrying their firearms because the state considers it dangerous to allow them to do so. Somehow, the state doesn’t think about student safefty when they don’t repair the incredible number for broken call boxes that are there for “student safety.”

Remember students, your government knows what’s best for you. Moooooo.

By GGorodon

August 28, 2008 9:50 AM | Link to this

Get rid of the Animal House mentality. Forget about the FACT the if someone wants to have an AR 15 in the clock tower and shoot at random strangers, laws don’t matter. Forget the possiblity that law abiding adults having conceled weapons just MIGHT make a difference if a crazy person DID get loose amoung them. What the anti-crowd is saying this that our women can’t carry a gun. Right? You would deny my daughter and wife their constitutional right to defend themselves on campus against a larger male attacker in the only way thay have a fighting chance. It’s their best option. A gun in the purse is worth more than a cop on the phone.

By GA_GFL

August 28, 2008 10:31 AM | Link to this

Kimber said: [i] Granted, many of the shooters are not legal (although a surprising number are), I don’t think it’s a good idea to allow citizens the same permissions as a police officer. [/i]

I assume you’re trying to say that a “surprising number” of criminal shootings are conducted by people who are legally licensed to carry a firearm? If so, please show me the statistics to back that up.

It’s proven fact that citizens who have firearms licenses are statistically more law abiding than police officers.

And we’re not talking about “permission” to carry firearms - we are talking about the [b]right[/b] to bear arms that we were born with and that is protected by the bill of rights.

Did you need to get permission, or a license(!), to make your post on this message board?

By don

August 28, 2008 11:18 AM | Link to this

It is no secret that RAPE is a very big problem on campuses. If woman were allowed to carry weapons I think the rapists would reconsider their actions. After all, most of these low lifes carry weapons now regardless of the law and law abiding women only have fists or mace to protect themselves. Don’t you see what is wrong with this picture? If those who oppose had a daughter who was raped on campus what would they think?

By Cindy

August 28, 2008 12:13 PM | Link to this

teachers should be able to carry to school too! If teachers with carry permits (which means they passed both Georgia and FBI background checks) are allowed to carry to school, things like columbine and virginia tech could not happen. violent criminals who want to massacre students don’t want resistance. Letting teachers carry would prevent these attacks or at the very least reduce the body count - like the church shooting last year where the killer was stopped by a woman volunteer security officer before the killer could get inside. If teachers are responsible enough to be in charge of our kids at school they should be responsible enough to protect our kids from criminals and maniacs.

By Guns Save Lives

August 28, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this

Those who do not want the law-abiding citizens to legally carry a firearm on campus want to ban carrying firearms everywhere. They only act like college campus are somehow special.

I can legally carry across the street at a restaurant. There is no good reason to ban those legally allowed to carry a firearm to carry at the college across the street.

We already have an example of carrying firearms in a collage - Utah. It’s been about 2 years since the state banned collages from denying people their 2nd Amendment right. The last time i checked there were zero incidents in Utah.

This is where liberal minds start to pop. Logic goes against most things they are for. These same people have said the same thing time and time again, starting in the mid 80’s when Florida restored the right of the people to carry firearms in public. It’s been about 20 years - and the liberals are proved wrong across the country.

BTW, there was an excellent episode on gun rights vs gun control on the TV show 30 Days entitled Gun Culture about 2 months ago. A staunch gun control person went to live with a pro gun rights person in their home for 30 days. When it is played again i recommend everyone (on both sides) see it. It was very well done and showed both sides equally.

By Elizabeth

August 28, 2008 12:23 PM | Link to this

Look at the reality. There are already guns in schools, guns on MARTA, and guns everywhere else. The problem is that only criminals and gang members have had them. The only difference now, due to our lawmakers’ decision to allow adults with permits to carry guns, is that law-abiding citizens have the option to defend themselves. Horrified complaints from gun control advocates that guns at universities would be disastrous in such a party atmosphere dismiss the idea out of hand, ignoring the fact that students of adult age have a constitutional right to do so. Require those students to keep the weapon in a locked gun safe when they are not carrying it on their person, but don’t deny a student the right to defend themselves. Virginia Tech should be enough example for anybody. No one pays attention to gun bans except criminals.

By TBILL

August 28, 2008 12:32 PM | Link to this

How many students were able to hide behind the “GUN FREE ZONE” sign at Virginia Tech and save their lives? Time’s up “0, Nada, None” that’s how many. How many of our female students have uased the “GUN FREE ZONE” sign to stop a rapist or mugger? Same answer, isn’t that strange. How many “Gun Grabbers” put themselves between a criminal bent on killing and innocent victims? Same answer, see a pattern here? How many “No Guns on Campus Types” would hide behind an armed student using his/her weapon to defend their lives? Answer, every one. Boys and Girls, every citizen in the USA has a God-Given right to life and the defense of that life. The writers of the Constitution stated in the 2nd Amendment the government has no right to interfere with that right. You want to go through life dependent on someone else to defend you, you have that right. What you don’t have is the right to interfere with anyone else’s right to defend themselves. I have a GFL from GA, a CCW from 3 other states, I should have the right to carry my weapon anywhere the President of the USA has armed guards. His life is no more precious to him than mine is to me. Disarming Law-Abiding citizens to prevent crime is just about as sane as having sex to promote virginity. Those who promote “Gun Control” are cowardly elitists who wish to hide themselves behind the false safety they preach and wish to bring everyone down to their level so they may exercise the power they think their eliteism gives them. Their cowardice makes it impossible for them to conceive the idea of anyone putting their own life at risk to save others. Watch out for those would want to trade your liberty for their safety, neither one of you will get the desired result.

By Yes - It's just common sense.

August 28, 2008 2:35 PM | Link to this

Yes, as a citizen of the United States of America - you should be able to protect yourself from someone trying to do you harm. Even if that means using a firearm (if properly licensed). It is a God Given Right for anyone to be able to protect themselves, and unlike in so many different countries around the world, here in America it’s still protected by the 2nd Amendment.

The frenzied reaction from some people about guns is noting more than a knee jerk reaction by what I believe to be good people. Its just that they’re wrong.

If I could wave a magic wand and make all guns on earth disappear - and for no one to ever be threaten, harmed or killed by a gun again - then I too would vote on that.

But reality is… no matter how intrusive or strong you make a law against firearms - there will always be Bad Guys who could care less about that law.

I’m sorry, but it’s the world we live in. And because of the realities of the world, we MUST be allowed to protect ourselves.

I recently had a co-worker ask me why my wife and I have our Georgia firearm license and why we would even want to carry a gun.

I explained by stating we carry a gun for the exact same reason we have a fire extinguisher in our kitchen. Why I wear my helmet when I ride my motorcycle.

Why we hold our children’s hands when we are walking on the sidewalk so they won’t run into the street.

It seems so clear to me.

Unfortunately, the reaction I receive was an increased volume in his speech and a level of anger that seemed quite inappropriate… I changed the subject quickly.

I don’t understand why so many many people believe the false statements about how there will gun battles in the streets and people shooting each other.

They said the same thing about Florida 10 years ago (estimating that date) when they passed their concealed carry law… yet the mass killings did not happen. And that type of statistics can be proven over and over again in many states.

Yet the hysterical speculations goes?!?

So yes, Georgians should be allow to carry (if properly licensed) anywhere - even on school, church & government property.

By eddy

August 28, 2008 4:32 PM | Link to this

criminals already carry firearms on college campuses just ask students at Georgia Tech about the armed robberys this summer. Allowing students with Georgia Carry Permits to be armed on campus would be a great deterant to attacks by roving criminals on campus

By Brian

August 30, 2008 1:08 AM | Link to this

I’m currently a student at Kennesaw state and have been licensed to carry since for four years now. I am genuinely worried about my safety on campus at night, especially with the parking situation. Often you will not be able to park close to your classroom building, forcing you to walk a great distance through some poorly lit areas into even scarier parking decks. Night time fears aside, mass shootings on campus should show everyone just how vulnerable schools are. Virginia Tech was a horrible crime, those students were lined up and killed. If any one of those students or even staff had been carrying legally, the death toll would have been reduced greatly. The politicians need to stop playing games with our safety and let us protect ourselves!