Putting concealed guns on campus is sheer folly

Gary Jacobsen
Published: March 13, 2008

Del. Robert G. Marshall, R-Manassas, is best known for continually pushing narrow pro-religion and anti-abortion legislation in Richmond, much to the annoyance of others in the General Assembly. Now, however, Mr. Marshall is expanding his agenda: He wants law abiding college students and professors to be able to carry guns on campus so that they can have shoot-outs with gun-toting thugs who might be a threat to others.

This idea lacks merit. Here’s why:

The definition of “law abiding” is slippery. Persons in our society do not conveniently fall into categories of law-abiding or lawbreaker. Many violent felons have not yet been arrested and prosecuted and as a result, they blend in seamlessly with the rest of society. They can legally buy guns and they can get concealed-weapon permits if they wish. Mr. Marshall thinks these persons should be allowed to wander about college campuses with their guns, but most people — especially those with sons or daughters in college — would strongly disagree.

Second, if Mr. Marshall had actual experience with firearms (such as through military service), he would know that possession of a firearm by itself does not guarantee protection from someone who seeks to do harm to others. Guns in the hands of untrained owners (the usual case) are notoriously inaccurate at distances over 15 yards. A person firing such a weapon in a crowded classroom is as likely to hit a student as an armed intruder. The more other students join in the shooting, the greater the hazard becomes.

Third, even in the rare case where a handgun is carried by a person who is trained to be a good marksman, the hazard to others persists. The reason: thugs use the element of surprise to their advantage. That’s how they kill policemen. Thus, an intruder at a college is in a position to shoot or disarm anyone who attempts to interfere with his diabolical plans. Again, the threat to innocent bystanders is enormous.

Finally, firearms in the hands of students are a hazard to others because the weapons are not easily stored, transported or handled. Members of the armed forces, though trained in the use of firearms, are frequently victims of what are euphemistically called accidental discharges. The same will happen to college students who keep guns in dormitory rooms or who carry the weapons to frat parties, to athletic events and to other student activities. In his movies, Arnold Schwarzenegger brandished a variety of weapons with ease, but in real life things do not always work that way. Even Vice President Dick Cheney managed to shoot another person while hunting outdoors.

In sum, firearms, especially handguns, are inherently dangerous. They have no place on a college campus except in the hands of the campus police.

Well, can anything be done to improve security on our college campuses? Sure. To begin, the number of campus police officers should be increased, perhaps even doubled. Next, their level of training
must be improved.

Each campus police officer should be required to requalify annually with both pistols and rifles. Finally, each college should have an alert plan which will allow administrators to transmit text messages to all students immediately if there is any sort of danger on campus.

But allow students and professors to tote guns? No. That will only worsen the situation.

Gary Jacobsen is a pistol marksman and former college professor. He lives in Woodbridge.