2008 Woodie Awards
Give me liberty or give me death
Jon Miller
Issue date:
2/13/08
Section:
Opinion
Washington state legislators debated two bills on Thursday that took two very distinct sides of how to keep college campuses safe.
Initially, State Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, introduced Senate Bill 6841, that would basically ban the right to bear arms on any college campus in the state (guns and other weapons are already prohibited at Olympic College). In effect, it would take what is a typical campus policy and make it into law.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, Sen. Pam Roach proposed a counter to Murray's bill, SB 6860. Roach's bill would prohibit colleges and universities from making rules that prevent people with the appropriate permit from carrying a concealed weapon. It would still allow schools to ban the illegal possession of weapons on campus and enforce gun safety policies.
Proponents for SB 6841 cite many recent examples of campus massacres to support their bill; for instance, the 32 victims of the Virginia Tech gunman or the shooting of a University of Washington employee by a crazed lover.
These instances don't support this proposal at all. Neither of these shootings or any other school shooting like it would have been prevented by a "gun-free zone" policy. Such regulations are nothing more than passive suggestions that are posted on signs around a campus's perimeter, but they are not likely to deter an enraged killer.
SB 6860 supporters said the bill would protect the rights of responsible gun owners to carry their weapon anywhere they please. It would not make it legal for anyone to start bringing their arsenal to school, at least not any more legal than the Constitution allows.
One OC instructor said the thought of his students "packing" in his classroom made him afraid. That's a legitimate fear, but I don't think it's a reality.
If this were a reasonable concern then campuses that don't have a gun-free policy (if there are any) would see regular gun violence. The truth is this just isn't happening. Just because students would have the right to carry a gun doesn't mean any of them actually will. And students that do opt to conceal a firearm are not likely to use them on a whim.
The school shootings that have occurred in the past were caused by an irresponsible minority of gun owners who, for one reason or another, were unable to ignore that little voice in their head that says, "College campuses make great hunting grounds."
These people give a bad name to responsible gun owners who don't use their gun recklessly. It is a shame that Americans today readily sacrifice the liberties that our forefathers fought so valiantly for just to give them the illusion of security.
Neither bill has been voted on, and some legislators said it is not likely that either one will see action during this legislative session.
But the bottom line is SB 6841 will not save students from maniacs, but SB 6860 will save our civil liberties from eroding away.
Initially, State Sen. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, introduced Senate Bill 6841, that would basically ban the right to bear arms on any college campus in the state (guns and other weapons are already prohibited at Olympic College). In effect, it would take what is a typical campus policy and make it into law.
On the opposite side of the spectrum, Sen. Pam Roach proposed a counter to Murray's bill, SB 6860. Roach's bill would prohibit colleges and universities from making rules that prevent people with the appropriate permit from carrying a concealed weapon. It would still allow schools to ban the illegal possession of weapons on campus and enforce gun safety policies.
Proponents for SB 6841 cite many recent examples of campus massacres to support their bill; for instance, the 32 victims of the Virginia Tech gunman or the shooting of a University of Washington employee by a crazed lover.
These instances don't support this proposal at all. Neither of these shootings or any other school shooting like it would have been prevented by a "gun-free zone" policy. Such regulations are nothing more than passive suggestions that are posted on signs around a campus's perimeter, but they are not likely to deter an enraged killer.
SB 6860 supporters said the bill would protect the rights of responsible gun owners to carry their weapon anywhere they please. It would not make it legal for anyone to start bringing their arsenal to school, at least not any more legal than the Constitution allows.
One OC instructor said the thought of his students "packing" in his classroom made him afraid. That's a legitimate fear, but I don't think it's a reality.
If this were a reasonable concern then campuses that don't have a gun-free policy (if there are any) would see regular gun violence. The truth is this just isn't happening. Just because students would have the right to carry a gun doesn't mean any of them actually will. And students that do opt to conceal a firearm are not likely to use them on a whim.
The school shootings that have occurred in the past were caused by an irresponsible minority of gun owners who, for one reason or another, were unable to ignore that little voice in their head that says, "College campuses make great hunting grounds."
These people give a bad name to responsible gun owners who don't use their gun recklessly. It is a shame that Americans today readily sacrifice the liberties that our forefathers fought so valiantly for just to give them the illusion of security.
Neither bill has been voted on, and some legislators said it is not likely that either one will see action during this legislative session.
But the bottom line is SB 6841 will not save students from maniacs, but SB 6860 will save our civil liberties from eroding away.
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