There are dangers besides guns, as in binge (sp) drinking of alcoholand even water, that has probably killed more college kids that all the college shootings (honestly I do not have numbers to back that up). The reason why it should make it safer if that shooters on campuses know that students and faculty are unarmed. With students and faculty that are trained in the safe use of a firearm and get a concealed license, it should make possible shooters think twice. truthfully that is not a garrenty (sp) but without them (guns) you know that shooters will know that the people are unarmed. Some would say that arming such young people is wrong and even irresponsible but here in the states like in a lot of other countries have high school gradutes that join the Army, Navy, etc. First they are 18 and above in age and second in the armed services yes they are trained but they are not licensed.
Well, it can also go the other way: If future "psychopaths"(in lack of a better term) know that the targets themselves might be carrying guns, couldnt that spark the thought to simply cause more damage in a shorter period of time? Example: If a kid is about to commit an act like the school-shootings, could he/she/them consider that "less time to do damage, considering the other students are armed"? Also, most of them seem to be pretty much prepared to die after their act/acts, so I doubt it would deter them. I hope Im wrong, obviously. Im assuming it would also mean a HUGE increase in psychiatric work regarding the American school-system, considering that previous assailants have slipped through, even though there have been tons of warning sings. Seems like an improved gun-control would be "easier", in so many ways. I know I would NEVER had gone to school, knowing that hormone-raging teenagers are "packing heat"... What about lockers, preventing theft etc.? Gang-rivalries in school? Soooo many questions on my behalf, and no matter how I twist and turn it, flooding the schools with firearms wouldnt make it safer, in my opinion. Will taxpayers be the ones paying for increased control etc.?
knb-texas: Thank you for your response and support. Thanks everyone else who also responded this is what free speach is all about
Yeah, you may well be right. I know I'm reaching. I'm trying to suggest that there is something in our culture today that is contributing to all this. Glorifying gun fights and violence in the media is an easy target.
Another quick consideration. The faculties of these institutions have spoken out against the legislation. I would imagine it will have an impact of the pool of qualified teachers and other personnel. Personally, I would be reluctant to give what I considered to be an unstable kid a bad grade if I knew he might be packing.
My opinion is the lack of respect. When we were kids we feared/respected our parents, teachers, police etc. today's kids don't, and they don't have to. also this thread was about college kids/ - or should I say adults, it wasn't about high school kids.
I would tend to agree. But how do you explain why Canada and Britain aren't experiencing this problem to the same magnitude? Less access to firearms? Or perhaps that firearms are more ingrained in the U.S. culture? Things have changed here, as well. Comparably, shootings were almost non-existent in Canada up to say, the 80's? But compared to the U.S. we still have very little. We have the same cultural media. Same music, TV, movies, etc. It is very complex, I'm sure with no simple answers. It's tragic that parents should have to fear for their children just going to school.
it has nothing to do with availibilty of weapons - I can kill someone with a pen/pencil just as quick as I can with a gun. It has to do with the lack of respect and the fact the some people think you can legislate decency and morality in this country instead of allowing parents the right to raise their kids. In a nutshell, punishment does not fit the crime in the US anymore and the "it's not my fault" defense is considered acceptable.
Personally, Id choose a group of angry kids armed with pencils rather than firearms, any day of the week, hehe I still feel that having an "entire" school packing heat, is all but optimal.
