Introduction

Governor Brownback signed a bill introduced by Kansas state legislature that mandates all public buildings to allow handguns, with the exception of some buildings with security measures (i.e. metal detectors.) Public universities were given an exemption until 2017 to meet the new expectations. Exemption for public college and university campuses to prevent concealed carry will expire in 2017. When the current exemption expires, anyone could concealed or open carry a handgun on to Kansas college campuses. Currently, public colleges and universities in Kansas have the right to choose to prohibit handguns on campus and in campus buildings. Since April 2015, Kansas also no longer requires its citizens to undergo training or authorization to conceal carry a handgun.  There is no license required for this, and any citizen who legally owns a firearm may conceal carry. This further adds to the issue as now nearly anyone could buy a handgun and carry it on to a college campus without any type of training.

Below is a small excerpt from the law that public colleges and universities have been exempted from over the past few years. In 2017, this law will take effect over public universities and colleges.

Some argue in favor or “for” the allowance of concealed carry being allowed on public university campuses. Others argue “against” the end of the exemption period and support the prohibition of handguns at college universities.

Big Question: Should adults be allowed to carry handguns onto public colleges and universities and into campus buildings?

Major Democratic Ideals in Play: Public Safety, 2nd Amendment right

Links:

http://cjonline.com/news/2015-12-28/brownback-defends-states-new-guns-campus-law

http://www.ncsl.org/research/education/guns-on-campus-overview.aspx

Questions:

What are the reasons why you would feel safer with and without concealed weapons on college campuses? Brainstorm 1-2 ideas for each side.

Argument 1: Public Safety

 Against Argument: 

Allowing concealed carry on college campuses makes students, faculty, and public safety personnel vulnerable to gun violence at anytime. A professor at Kansas State stated that, “University classrooms, labs, libraries, athletic venues, and other public spaces bring people in close proximity to one another. Accidental shootings cannot occur in the absence of guns and we believe more guns will increase the likelihood of accidental shootings of our co-workers, our students and the guests who come to our campuses.” If everyone were allowed to carry a handgun on campus, in the event of an active shooter, it could not only turn into a shoot out and put more people in danger, but also make it more difficult for public safety personnel to identify and target the perpetrator vs those trying to defend themselves. Allowing weapons on campus places everyone at risk of becoming a victim of gun violence. 

For Argument:

On the other hand, a common misconception of conceal and carry on college campuses is the assumption that there will be an escalation in violent crimes. However, over the past 20 years, more than 150 US college campuses allowing concealed carry and not one of these campuses has seen a single resulting act of violence (including threats) or a single resulting suicide attempt. In the same way, not a single state has seen a resulting increase in gun violence. In the event of an active shooter, concealed carry would increase the sense of public safety as students’ and faculty with handguns would be able to protect themselves and others against the perpetrator. Many believe that placing limitation on conceal and carry on Kansas college campuses not only goes against the Second Amendment’s right to bear arms but also encroaches on public safety.

Question: Based on the links below, do you believe conceal/carry make campuses more or less safe? Why?

Links: 

For: http://concealedcampus.org/common-arguments/#1

Against: http://www.governing.com/topics/education/tns-kansas-professors-campus-carry.html