I see no one posting positive knowledge of anything to do with what must be learned, licensed, practiced, and fees paid in order just to obtain a CCH permit, the precursor for use. The fees themselves mount into several hundreds of dollars for a five year period in most states, which would seem to deter most college students on a tight budget. A course of several hours (16-32 typically) must be taken by each individual applicant by a certified (NRA) firearms instructor, whom is also certified for the sole purpose of teaching CCH and Basic Handgun classes. Most of them are also sworn law enforcement officials.

Through the course, each applicant must pass a thorough written, oral, and practical exam including safe handling and storage, carry, and accuracy proficiency (scored on individual distances). Fees to the state in which you reside and the local mental health agency they use to do that history check are then paid. It typically takes the full 90 days wait for the initial background checks to be performed by the local sheriff and the state to issue the permit. Subsequent renewals usually procede much faster.

After issuance, an entire list of misdemeanor infractions may result in the revocation of the permit. Just about any felony will do the same. That means “charged with…”, and not “found guilty of…”. The penalties for breaking the law after issuance is usually much steeper than for non-permitted citizens in most states.

So, who is it that we are afraid of? The student issued the permit after meeting strict fees and requirements…the state Department of Justice…the law enforcement officer certifying the students…the mental health department doing the background checks there…the local sheriff who signed and issued the permit? Maybe it’s just the thought that since the beginning of modern time, no matter what we do nor whom is involved, we may never be able to prevent 100% of the evil that people will conjure up in an idle mind?

Well, asking for common sense these days may be stretching it a bit. What is that that Winston Churchill said about fear? In my opinion, preparedness will always be better. Educate all of your mind.

I’m really tired of the “Guns make people safer” argument. Other people having them doesn’t make me safer, and me having one wouldn’t either. It would just put me in a position of having to make split second decisions about using it. Any confrontation where one or all involved have a gun, even when not drawn, is an armed confrontation. That, and if they’re concealed weapons, I must, by default, assume that everyone else has one. Which makes every interaction an armed interaction. Not conducive to learning or teaching, imo.

Then again, perhaps I’m just an hysterical woman. [snerk]

Also, about a week after the Virginia Tech shootings, a female student in my women’s history class bragged about her experience with firearms and argued she and other students — as well as professors — should be allowed to carry guns for protection. So, there are women who are pro-gun, although fewer than men obviously.

And while I get your point, Historiann, about gendered dimensions of gun ownership, I don’t think male interests are being served here either. In the case of school shootings, absent maybe a specific intended target, it would seem that men and women would be more or less equally likely to be shot. But, in general, men are more likely to be victimized (by other men). So allowing guns on campus isn’t helping men any either. . .

Digger, I fear that your point about the budget is probably an apt one. Unfortunately, this jibes with a “wild west” mentality out here in general that suggests that somehow it’s cheaper and easier to make everyone responsible for their own selves. We don’t want to pay taxes for snowplows–it makes so much more sense for people to drive trucks and SUVs on dry streets 361 days of the year so they can blast through the snow 4 days per year! We don’t want to pay taxes to make universities safe–so let’s make sure every student has a gun! Yeah! Great idea!

Clio B.: Good points. I am more concerned about students using guns against each other and perhaps against faculty. One thing about the faculty bullies I knew is that they were uniformly physical cowards–petty bureaucrats who used paper and words to push people around, and who collapsed pretty quickly when I called them on it. I don’t think any of them own guns. But that’s not every bully–and you’re right that there’s no preventing an armed person from snapping.