By Francesca Garbrah
Earlier today Representative Cooper, Oklahoma State University, introduced a bill relating to “concealed carry.” This bill will allow all people registered a Concealed Carry Permit the right to carry on state and private college campuses. This bill has the right intention which is to increase a sense of security but we are increasing that sense in an incorrect way.
All Americans like to have a sense of protection on a daily basis but especially when danger is presented, which is why institutions such as Universities provide security. Allowing all people who have a concealed carry weapon permit on campus rather decreases security. Having a concealed weapon on state or private college campuses may insure your personal safety but what about the safety of others around you. There are too many factors such as the college setting in itself. For example college campuses have a large range of diversity, different religions different backgrounds different cultures with different beliefs in which this may conflict. There are also variables such as alcohol and drugs. Any person who has a concealed weapon during the time of alcohol consumption has will rather increase the harm and decrease security because may not be in their right mind or completely aware of what they are doing.
Representatives argued that there is actually no law set in place that restricts an individual to carry a concealed weapon on intuitions such as state or college campuses but brought up an idea that universities should be the ones penalized for any mishaps that occur on their campuses. This makes no sense because if universities aren’t the ones making this rules then why are universities being penalized for something they evidently had no control over.
A representative brought up a current situation that occurred in Missouri. African American college students were threatened to be beat up and shoot at simply because of the color of their skin. If this was instated how does that bring a sense of security to students who feel threatened? This rather increases the threat and decreases the security. The representative quoted from the words of Martin Luther King Jr. Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that. Adding danger to try to create security will solve anything. This bill was not passed.