KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana News Weather & SportsFeb. 23: Guns on Campus editorial

Feb. 23: Guns on Campus editorial

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Do you want your kids to be in a college classroom surrounded by other students carrying guns? How about being the teacher?

A bill under consideration right now in Texas would put guns in the hands of college students. Presumably by making gun possession legal on campuses students and teachers would be able to protect themselves in an emergency. It's a bad idea.

Texas lawmakers should learn from Virginia Tech. As you recall, Virginia Tech was the scene of a terrible shooting rampage. 32 people were killed by a student gunman.

How did Virginia Tech respond? They didn't' give all the students and teachers guns. Colin Goddard was one of the Virginia Tech students who was shot and survived the attack. He says he can't even imagine what it would have been like with multiple students and multiple guns.

Goddard says the whole idea of allowing students on campus to carry around guns is a recipe for disaster. University of Texas President, William Powers has opposed concealed handguns on campus, saying the mix of students, guns and campus parties is too volatile.

I think he's right. I'd like to hear what you think. I'm James Smith.

Viewer comment:

Just heard your editorial re:guns on campus and I wanted to tell you I could not disagree with you more..It will still be illegal for anyone under 21 years to carry.  That alone will exclude most students. I for one like the idea that law abiding trained citizens are allowed to protect themselves and others from those who think they can prey on college campus victims without concern for physical resistance.  Had this been the law at Virginia Tech I suspect lives would have been saved.  You should check statistics where citizens have the right to protect and defend themselves compared to places they don't.  Your heart may be in the right place, but you are wrong.

- Billy Hearnsberger, Shelby County Pct. Three Constable     

"You ask for comments about concealed handguns on campus.(IN MY OPINION) First off, it keeps being said "students" and inferring they are "children" (Many students now days are not children in college me having been one of them on 9/11/2001, I was 44 years old. I have 4 of 7 "children" in college today Brian 33, Francesca 30, Timothy 29, and Julia 26.)  That being said, you must be at least 21 years old to obtain a concealed hand gun license OR be in the military. (By the way, the government puts guns in 18-year-olds and up hands to defend our country. (Oh by the way, I also had 4 "children" in the U.S. Army and my Husband and they served overseas during the War on Terror they would be Brian (Medic), Samuell (Computerized Weapons), Francesca (Military Police), and Timothy (Airborne) and they risk life and limb for you to be able to have your opinions. (i.e.) that if they were only in college they should not be trusted to carry a gun to protect themselves and others. Guns don't kill people, people kill people and sane people don't do things like the Virginia Tech shooting. The ones that go through the full process to obtain and maintain their Concealed Handgun License should not be limited to where they can and are allowed to protect themselves.

"Since you let it be known that you are against the "Guns on Campus" bill, you left out the main objectives of the bill. I think you should have stated how it is presented for the legislature to vote on. It is only meant for faculty and students over the age of 21 who have received training and get a state permit to carry a gun, which is a great idea to be able to stop maniacs from killing a lot of people in one sweep. I think if everyone that can, should be able to stop a mass killing in any group of people by always being prepared for such a case.  The truth is, I think if every one that thinks about committing a crime knew that everyone had the right to have a gun for protection, they would change their mind about putting themselves in great danger. In turn that would eventually depopulate the prisons and jails and save the taxpayers a lot of money."

-  Kenneth Maxey

"Sound to me that you should be in the White House. You and Obama would make a good pair. You work in Shreveport and are more worried about what is in Texas with gun control or Arkansas about taxes. I thought your job was KSLA GM. You are about to make me sick with your opinions when it is none of your concern. You don't go to college. Back off or run for something you can't win."

- Curt 

 

"Thank you for being a voice of reason as it applies to not allowing guns on college campuses in Texas.  Instead of Texas office holders taking care of real business and issues critical to the state; such as an overwhelming deficit, cuts to education, health care and social services to name but a few, they throw up a smoke screen to divert attention from these very real problems and work on legislation to put guns in the classroom.  Great to know where their priorities are!"

"In my opinion, the governor and his buds in the legislature need to put their wild west mentality aside and concentrate on fixing this broken state and its economy, not in creating potential war zones in the classroom.  Thank you for allowing me to express my basic disgust with these so called "representatives"."

 

-  Leta Kay