Concealed Weapons Coming to College Campuses?
South Carolina could legalize the concealed carry of weapons on college campuses.
USC Professors and Students voice their opinion of the proposed legislation.
South
Carolina always has been on the conservative end of politics, especially when
it comes to the second amendment.
Several
bills have been introduced in the state house and one has caught the eyes of
many college students and professors.
The
bill would legalize the carry of a concealed weapon along as the person had a
permit.
Many
professors at USC are not in favor of the idea because they’re not comfortable
with the idea.
“Being
an undergraduate or even graduate student is a stressful time. We’ve all had instances where students
have become somewhat unbalanced because of extracurricular activities, drugs,
or the pressure of being a student.
I just assume not have students exposed to someone who might be somewhat
unbalanced and have come to class armed,” said USC professor Jay Bender.
A
group of students have advocating to have their 2nd amendment rights
extended to them on campus have formed, and they have actually applied to be
recognized as a campus organization.
They
call themselves USC Students for Concealed Carry, and one group organizer said
if concealed weapons were allowed on campus it could cause the crime rate at
USC to go down.
“There
are multiple states that currently allow concealed weapons on campus. None of them have ever had an incident
where a student with a concealed weapons permit has caused an issue. At every campus that has allows
concealed weapons permits to be carried on campus they have seen a decrease in
crime,” said student organizer Kenny Adamson.
Adamson
is quick to point to Colorado State University when it comes to a drop in
crime.
“Before
they [Colorado State] enacted their law they had 142 rapes and sexual assaults
in the four years prior. In the
four years after they enacted their concealed carry law on campus there was
only 24 sexual assaults and rapes.
It’s
hard to relate crime rates to concealed weapon laws, but State Senator Lee
Bright, who is sponsoring the bill in South Carolina, said this is about making
students less vulnerable to criminals.
“At
USC you guys have had like 17 assaults.
While only 1 on campus the other 16 were just off of campus. When you’re traveling in between your
class, your car, and traveling on campus at night being vulnerable where you
can’t defend yourself I don’t think that’s right if you have a CWP,” said
Senator Bright.
While
Bright’s idea of students being safer is permit holders being allowed to carry
on campus, Bender suggested the best way to be safe is to use common sense
safety rules.
“Don’t
walk alone, don’t walk drunk, travel in groups, and if you’re concerned about
your safety call one of the shuttle services. They’re free shuttle service to bring students to Five
Points and back. Take a cab, take
a shuttle, don’t take a pistol,” said Bender.
Safety
is ultimately up to the students themselves.
It
should be noted that concealed weapon permit holders are currently allowed to
bring their weapon to campus as long as the weapon is in their vehicle in a
latching or locking compartment.
The
proposed bill is still being debated in the Senate Judiciary Committee.
