1. I don't think students should be allowed to carry concealed weapons, personally, because I don't trust college kids with guns. I agree with the whole "substance abuse" issue because it's something that concerns me the most. If you think about how many out-of-control parties there are in college, and add guns to that equation, the result is not something pretty.
2. I'm not entirely sure. I don't think guns should be allowed at all. And if there were 'criteria'...what would those criteria be? How the hell can you judge a person to see if they're capable of carrying a gun and only using it for their personal portection? The definition of 'self-defense' is different for every person.
3. CNN stated that some students began carrying concealed weapons after the incident at VA Tech. I guess that means students want a gun in case some crazy student pulls a gun on them. That seems to me to be the strongest reason to carry a concealed weapon. On the other hand, though, I think that's also the weakest reason. Because, honestly, there's no guarantee that you can protect yourself from someone who's pointing a gun at you just because you've got one yourself. What if you can't pull it out in time? A gunshot fires in a split-second...that's not much time for "self-defense", if you ask me.
4. On News Net, an article titled Students Protest Concealed-weapon Law explained that not everyone at Utah University is in support of the bill that may be passed to allow students to carry concealed weapons on campus: "President of Students Against Violence, Ryan Keller, 22, a junior from Salt Lake City majoring in philosophy, said that he and others are just trying to make the government represent what the people want." There are many groups collecting signatures that will be sent to the Mayor in hopes that he will veto the bill. Keller also said, "If you have a gun in your sight, you always have the ability to kill someone else in an instant, so I assume that someone sitting next to me will always act rationally, but in a sense my life is in his hands and every person that is around me." (Students Protest).
[http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/02/20/cnnu.guns/index.html#cnnSTCText]
I think he makes a valid point: how are we supposed to trust everyone? Why would we want to put our lives in the hands of someone else - someone we don't even know?
5. I don't think ANYONE should be allowed to carry a gun except trained proffesionals.
6. A Critical Guide to the Second Amendment states: "Before addressing the body of Second Amendment scholarship, it is worth taking a moment to put it into the context of the popular debate over gun controls and the right to bear arms. Although it would be something of an oversimplification, it is probably fair to say that those who support gun control have generally tended either to ignore the Second Amendment entirely or to adopt an interpretation that leaves it essentially without effect. Those opposed to gun control, on the other hand, have naturally tended to adopt rather strong interpretations of the Second Amendment."
[http://www.guncite.com/journals/reycrit.html]
I agree with this, and in my opinion, the second amendment was meant only for trained professionals. But, then again, I support gun control, so my opinion is going to be bias. I just don't think anyone in Utah - as long as they are 21, have no criminal record, and are "mentally stable" - should be able to carry a gun. What does "mentally stable" even mean? How can you be sure if a person is mentally stable?
7. No, I don't think the second amendment is sufficient, mainly due to the fact that giving someone a gun gives them too much power, too much control. Well, if, according to the second amendment, "people" have the "right to bear arms", everyone should carry a gun, right? I mean, if I have to put my trust in someone I don't know just because the government says they're capable, or trustworthy...that's not fair to me. And, what about accidents? I know guns don't kill people, people kill people...but guns help and otherwise ill-equipped person to kill another person, whether that be on accident or on purpose. I don't think the answer to the problem of violence is...more violence.
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I totally agree. I don't trust college kids with money or sex, why should I trust others with a GUN. I hadn't even thought about a party situation. That could absolutely escalate to a terrible level. It's so fluid about how people are allowed to have a gun permit...people change and what if someone just snaps one day and can't take it anymore. Maybe we should have more professionals on campus, rather than guns.
I agree with what you said about how it is very hard to be able to determine who should be allowed to carry a gun and who is capable. Looking at most campus shootings, most of the people who were the shooters did not show any legitimate signs of being killers, and it would be unfair for it to be considered subjective for who is allowed to carry a weapon.
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