Robertson's vote for on-campus weapons a bad move

Editorial Board Staff Column

President-elect Colorado Robertson's final vote as speaker of the Student Government Senate could taint whatever mark he will leave when his days are done at the University.

After hours of debate stretching between two Student Senate meetings, Robertson cast the tie-breaking vote in support of a resolution supporting Louisiana House Bill No. 199. If passed, the state bill could allow people with concealed weapon permits to bring their guns on campus.

A previous resolution sparked the debate Wednesday night. Sen. Drew Prestridge led the fight for his resolution opposing the House bill, but it was voted down 9 to 14 after debate Thursday. With barely a quorum present - half of the Senate plus one, the Senate's required attendance to conduct business - the Senate split voting on the supporting resolution, 11 to 11.

This board strongly opposes any type of gun on campus, and we are disappointed in Robertson's vote.
On the flip side, this board congratulates outgoing SG President Cassie Alsfeld's refusal to sign the bill.

As this board has said before, 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.

The arguments in favor of this legislation were the same arguments any Second-Amendment-loving American will put forward when asked to defend the individual right to bear arms.

But the phrase "law-abiding citizens" is thrown around so casually that it is easy to forget everyone is technically a law-abiding citizen until the split-second they decide to break the law - and for those of us in the classroom, a split-second is not enough time to react.

Hypothetical scenarios, then, are drawn to distinguish what would happen if someone with a gun ran into a classroom.

Here's one for the supporters: if this bill passes, how many people in that room will pick that moment to prove their heroism all at once?

How many bullets will it take before you're satisfied?

President-elect Robertson should be ashamed now that his Senate legacy has been established.


Originally published in The Daily Reveille...