Universities should never allow guns on campuses

Editorial Board Staff Column

College campuses around the country face a serious dilemma from proponents of the Second Amendment, as well as those of us actively pursuing a rational solution to the crisis affecting America's institutions of higher education.

This Board is infuriated, however, with the lackluster suggestion - provided by self-described, red-blooded Americans - of allowing "law-abiding citizens" to conceal weapons on campuses.

Utah is the only state in the country allowing students to carry concealed weapons, but the university prohibits the display of these guns in public.

South Dakota might become the second, pending the passage of HB 1261, which would prevent any public institution of higher education from "regulat[ing] or restrict[ing] the right to carry or possess a firearm in accordance with state law." The act further stipulates that guns must be stored in a locked gun safe registered within the students' residences.

It takes only one bullet, however, to kill someone.

"Law-abiding citizens" abide by the law until the second before they commit a crime. They should be viewed as such in the public domain, but that does not lend credence to the thought of eliminating "gun-free zones."

These zones are as such for a reason - and it has nothing to do with restricting rights.

The premise for a gun-free zone is contained within the Second Amendment itself.

According to U.S. law, "a well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed."

The most important part of this is the "well-regulated militia." Our laws concerning gun control are in serious need of reform, as they have been for a significant amount of time. But whenever change is imminent, groups like the National Rifle Association - which has absolutely nothing to do with higher education - asphyxiate the process with fiercely ignorant psycho-babble about gun rights.

For too long, we have engaged in empty rhetoric about our constitutional rights, without examining the problems happening today. Guns serve no purpose other than to destroy; throwing more guns at the problem in lieu of commencing a proper forum on the need for better security measures and alternate means of realizing a safe environment.

For anyone who argues, "Guns don't kill people; people kill people," the message from this Board is crystal clear - guns kill people, and bringing more on campus makes us less safe. More controllable measures will work better for the common good.

Originally published in The Daily Reveille...