Editor:
When I first heard about the gun debate, I thought it would be a mute point. Responsible gun owners already know that the campus is no place for guns. Don’t get me wrong, there are many places where guns are appropriate, and I completely support the right to bear arms. However, it seems our capacity to utilize technology has once again surpassed the amount of responsibility it takes to use it properly.
I have a couple of quick points to make. One: Guns do not offer you protection on campus. If you think that, you are fooling yourself. Ask the pistol team how long it takes to take an accurate shot. In the case of an attack, you wouldn’t have time to pull a gun, especially if you are carrying it with the safety on. Delusions of a heroic stand with a gun saving you from your attacker come from watching too much television.
Two: Safety requires attention to many different details, no one solution will buy it for you. You cannot buy safety in a can. People give many excuses for why guns do ensure safety. Intimidation is often cited, which is the greatest reason guns should not be allowed on campus.
Simply put, “those who have the ability to protect themselves” would never turn to a gun in any of the close quarter situations they could get into on campus. They might carry a gun in their glove compartment, but even that is stretching it.
There is no place on campus for weapons of any sort. If campus authorities want to help students protect themselves, they should offer classes on hand to hand combat. Personally, however, I think the U is a school of learning, not a commando training center.
Adam Blake, Senior, Physics