College Republicans seeking to allow handguns at Old Dominion University

Old Dominion University is a reasonably safe place to work and go to school, but the campus police are not omnipresent (nor should they be) and crime still happens. Since August 30th of this year, there have been 64 cases of larceny, four robberies, and eight cases of assault (as of September 29th, 2010).

That’s why the ODU College Republicans have started a a petition to allow students, faculty and staff the choice to be able to carry handguns on campus.

“They can ban us from concealed carrying, but a regular joe blow like you can conceal carry anywhere you want on this campus and they can’t tell you you can’t,” said Tyler Spiers, spokesman for the CRs.

Students, faculty and staff face disciplinary action from the university if they carry a handgun on campus.

Here in Virginia, we’re obviously sensitive to campus shootings. From examiner.com:

In April 2007, a shooting spree at Virginia Tech carried out by Seung Hui Cho resulted in the loss of 32 innocent lives. Regardless of his motive or grim determination, had one or two students or teachers been armed–his murderous attack in Tech’s Norris Hall could have been stopped.

In 2006, a Va. Tech student was disciplined for carrying a gun on campus, even though he possessed a concealed weapons permit. Va. Tech officials were quick to point out that their school was a “gun free zone.” That assertion has not only proven to be naive but deadly as well.

In January 2006, House Bill 1572 was introduced in the Virginia General assembly. The legislation would have allowed students who possess a concealed weapons permit to carry their guns anywhere on campus. Most schools in Virginia have policies against students and faculty carrying guns on campus, Va. Tech is of course one of those schools. The bill failed to pass through the Committee on Militia, Police, and Public Safety.

Va. Tech Vice President Larry Hincker gave the following statement shortly after the aforementioned measure died in committee: “I’m sure the university community is appreciative of the General Assembly’s actions because this will help parents, students, faculty, and visitors feel safe on our campus.”

I wonder if Mr. Hincker has the courage to sit down with every family who lost a son or daughter in the 2007 attack and explain that statement?

The school administration at Old Dominion, like Hincker, has equally turned a blind eye to taking a serious approach to promoting a culture of security on campus. In a statement to WAVY.com, the university writes:

“At Old Dominion University, our primary mission is education. Our campus is a place where students come to exchange ideas and bring their goals to life. Like the vast majority of universities across the Commonwealth and the country, Old Dominion University does not permit firearms on campus. The university has a wide range of safety measures in place to provide an environment where members of our community are free to learn and grow.”

And it would likely be a lot safer if students, faculty, and staff had the capacity to defend themselves.

Forgive me if I am a bit underwhelmed by the rainbow, unicorns and puppy-dogs statement from the university.

Of course your primary mission is the education of students. And of course students attend the university to “exchange ideas” and talk about their “goals” (*gack*).

Where the university is wrong though is their approach to security.

ODU states that it is their responsibility “to provide an environment where members of our community are free to learn and grow”.

That responsibility is not solely theirs. While I applaud them as an organization for wanting that to occur, it has been and always should be an individual’s responsibility to seek out their own security and the security of others.

By not permitting students and faculty their fundamental right to defend themselves, while anyone else who cares to walk around campus packing is fine, the university completely undermines their goal of creating a culture of safety on campus.

The current campus policy is senseless and ignorant.

Once again, liberal elites take an ideological approach to the world while ignoring a fundamental truth: it’s a dangerous place and people have the inherent right to protect themselves – not have their liberties taken away by an organization with its head-in-the-sand.

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