Spring Break
Campuses debate gun control issues
Tim Bella
Issue date: 11/30/07 Section: News
According to information gathered from Sept. 1, 2006, to Aug. 31 by the Texas Department of Public Safety, Tarrant County issued 6,561 concealed handgun licenses - good for 7.22 percent of the nearly 91,000 issued licenses by the state during that time period. The totals were good for third in the state, behind only Harris and Dallas Counties. The county would also finish tied for third with Bexar County and behind Harris and Dallas Counties in license denials at 23, or almost 6 percent of the state's concealed handgun license denials.
Of the 90,867 licenses issued, 2,929 were issued to people ages 21 to 23, which was good for 3.22 percent of the licenses issued during the yearlong period, according to these same Texas DPS statistics. These figures dwarf the 392 applicants and the 40 people ages 21 to 23 - which totaled a much larger chunk of concentrated data at 10.21 percent - whom were denied a license.
Even with the statistics being as concentrated as they are for college-age students in Tarrant County, legislation in the 2007-2008 Official Student Handbook indicates the use, storage or possession of weapons or devices potentially causing harm to others "may result in immediate expulsion in addition to the filing of criminal charges."
"There is no benefit to having a firearm on campus unless you are a member of our police force," Boschini said.
Open Your Eyes
The discussion has trickled onto the lawn of TCU among students who support and oppose the idea of concealed weapons on campus.
Students such as Chris Benavente, who is an active member of the National Rifle Association, said gun owners are law-abiding, responsible individuals, and thus should allow for concealed carrying on campus. Benavente, a senior political science major from Spring, said his strong views on the Second Amendment through his NRA affiliation and what it means has shaped his perspective on the issue.
"I support in protecting our Second Amendment right," Benavente said. "Your right to defend yourself, your family and your position is important, and is the most basic right we have in America."
Of the 90,867 licenses issued, 2,929 were issued to people ages 21 to 23, which was good for 3.22 percent of the licenses issued during the yearlong period, according to these same Texas DPS statistics. These figures dwarf the 392 applicants and the 40 people ages 21 to 23 - which totaled a much larger chunk of concentrated data at 10.21 percent - whom were denied a license.
Even with the statistics being as concentrated as they are for college-age students in Tarrant County, legislation in the 2007-2008 Official Student Handbook indicates the use, storage or possession of weapons or devices potentially causing harm to others "may result in immediate expulsion in addition to the filing of criminal charges."
"There is no benefit to having a firearm on campus unless you are a member of our police force," Boschini said.
Open Your Eyes
The discussion has trickled onto the lawn of TCU among students who support and oppose the idea of concealed weapons on campus.
Students such as Chris Benavente, who is an active member of the National Rifle Association, said gun owners are law-abiding, responsible individuals, and thus should allow for concealed carrying on campus. Benavente, a senior political science major from Spring, said his strong views on the Second Amendment through his NRA affiliation and what it means has shaped his perspective on the issue.
"I support in protecting our Second Amendment right," Benavente said. "Your right to defend yourself, your family and your position is important, and is the most basic right we have in America."
Viewing Comments 1 - 8 of 8
TPaine
posted 11/30/07 @ 2:01 PM CST
Wyatt Tubb sums up the debate succinctly in the last paragraph.
"I have never thought about that" is at least an honest beginning.
Many well intentioned, decent people have never thought things through. (Continued…)
Stephen J. Feltoon
posted 11/30/07 @ 3:37 PM CST
To follow-up with TPaine, it's not even about the sheep mentality of "I don't know what I'd do". If someone doesn't want to own or carry a gun, we support them, but don't ruin it for the rest of us. (Continued…)
Jack Duncan
posted 11/30/07 @ 6:38 PM CST
I am still amazed that some people are so naive as to think putting up a "No Guns" sign will actually prevent someone from having a gun. Only the law abiding (which by definition are not the problem) will obey such nonsense. (Continued…)
Jonh Luvaro
posted 11/30/07 @ 7:40 PM CST
While the academic debate drags on, re gun carry on campus, I recommend this. Do what I did when I had to live in affordable housing; (read here, a marginal / dangerous neighborhood). (Continued…)
Glen
posted 12/01/07 @ 9:46 PM CST
You rock; exactly what I did; and I carry my gun everywhere I can that doesn't have a metal detector -"no carry" sign be damned. No one, no government (look at 9/11 and the unarmed pilots!), no school, and no corporation has the right to take away my right to defense of family and self. (Continued…)
W. Scott Lewis
posted 12/03/07 @ 10:17 AM CST
FYI, it's a third degree felony to carry a concealed handgun on the campus of a college or university in the state of Texas, so the worst case scenario is being expelled AND going to jail. (Continued…)
Ed Sizemore
posted 12/03/07 @ 5:06 PM CST
This is, in my opinion, a no-brainer. The right to self-protection is God-given, and it is acknowledged and recognized by the Second Amendment; the Constitution does give us that right. (Continued…)
Itsa Secret
posted 12/04/07 @ 3:52 PM CST
Not meaning to nit-pick here, but for accuracy's sake: BYU is a private school and so they have the right to ban guns from their campuses (and I believe their Honor Code contains some language to the effect that students will not bring firearms on campus or keep them in student housing). (Continued…)
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