LAWMAKERS might be tempted to let University of Oklahoma President David Boren beg. He's offered to do just that to keep the Legislature from allowing concealed weapons on college campuses.
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"If it would help for me to get down on my knees to plead with the Legislature for the safety of our students, I would do so,” Boren said last week.
Boren and the vast majority of the state's other college and university presidents are united in opposition to a bill that originally would have allowed concealed weapons permit holders age 21 and older to carry guns on college campuses. The proposal has since been scaled back, limiting authorization to permit holders who are veterans, active-duty military and National Guard and reserve personnel and those with law enforcement certification.
The revision makes a bad idea better — but not by much. School officials and students have rightfully pointed out that in the case of a shooting, law enforcement would have a tough time figuring out the bad guys from the good guys. Boren contends the bill also would hurt student and faculty recruitment.
We understand lawmakers want to protect students from high-profile shootings like the recent one in Illinois. But this bill is a knee-jerk reaction.
Roger Webb, president of the University of Central Oklahoma and a former state public safety director, said proponents are well-meaning "but I fear an unintended consequence. If it passes, Oklahoma colleges could become the most dangerous in the nation.”
It's worth noting that concealed weapons would continue to be banned at other government buildings, including the state Capitol and city, county, state and federal offices. Lawmakers would be better served to let higher education officials determine how to best keep students safe and help identify the resources to make that happen.
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Oh please. The stats go contrary to your so called 'common sense'. Predators view college campuses as sitting ducks. Get people in there that are responsible with a firearm and you won't have a shooting free for all by some maniac with a gun. Go do some research on the numbers instead of your 'feelings'.
This is a case of stupid legislation. They voted against the end of sales tax on groceries. They voted against cheaper health insurance for our children. But they want to put guns in our schools. Maybe they should vote to put guns in the legislature too. Let's return to the Old West days, where everyone wore a gun. Are we going back there? I don't think it's wise. Are the gun lobbyists taking those capital folks out to eat this week?
How many would have been saved at Virgina Tech if there had been a conceal and carry permit holder in the class? The 'professional' security people that Boren carries on about saved no one! Hardly any of these incidents results in a timely death of the shooter because of the wait on response. This bill only allowed ex-military and CLEET trained to carry on campus. These people have more experience and training than many of these supposed 'professionals'. Do you people remember your campus cops? Talk about a gang that can't shoot straight! Twelve years of concealed carry permits in this state and non ONE instance where something illegal has occurred with a permit holder. Those on here that are afraid of concealed carry holders should go try to get a permit and learn that not everyone can qualify or pass the course. Dave you are the most clueless of them all if you really mean "I don't think it is an individual right because I can't believe the people who put this country together would be dumb enough to allow every person to have a weapon". You might want to do a little historical research into not only the debate on our Constitution but the background of the framers. I would wager they were all gun owners.
John, read the 2nd amendment. If the Court says this is an individual right then the right to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed. I don't think it is an individual right because I can't believe the people who put this country together would be dumb enough to allow every person to have a weapon. If the Court decides it is an individual, not State right, then hold on to your ---.
Just like you can "regulate" free speech, David, you can regulate guns. Or do you hold that you have the right to a machine gun, bazooka, or thermo nuclear device?
Is not the wording for this article refering to concealed guns? Is not Arizona the only state where you may carry a weapon--with a permit--that is visible. If I have a permit to carry a weapon, who knows I have it if I keep it concealed;however, educational institutions are not the places to allow just anyone to carry a weapon..concealed or otherwise.
Guns just read a article most shooters are 25 and youger,most dangerous 15 year old with a gun. Most all are Terroist our as the Media calls them Gang members.to youg can't do anything about it. They are terroist.and you let them be the only one with a gun and see what will happen.
If the Supreme Court rules as expected that the 2nd
Amendment is an "individual" right, how can guns or any arms be prohibited by law? If you have a constitutional right, can that right be taken away by legislation?
Gotta love the gun nuts and their twisted logic.
Sure, DC has a handgun ban and there murder rate is high, but let's ignore all the other statistics that are the root cause of this.
And sure, let's allow concealed weapons on college campuses...why not?
We all know that there is virtually no chance some hero with a gun on them will save the day during a shooting like at Virginia Tech but they don't care.
So bring 'em on, (like their idol Prez. Bush said) and instead of settling arguments with words, we'll do it with guns.
Between nutty legislators like the sponsor of this bill, Sally Kern, and the rest, Oklahoma is sure getting a great reputation these days, isn't it?
It's amazing that we're having this gun argument at the same time the U.S. Supreme Court is considering the Washington D.C. gun ban - Thirty years after enacting highly restrictive laws the city still has a high murder rate. Oh, yes, keeping guns off campus will surely keep guns off campus.
Read for yourself.
http://www.ok.gov/osbi/Publications/SDA_Statistics.html
in 2007 five carry permits were revoked. Personally I am unsure. Not sure I would have felt more comfortable in collage knowing that some students were carrying weapons. We did have problems at OSU but those were solved by having a group of students that provided escorts to those that were uncomfortable walking back from classes in the evening. Violent crimes happen all the time but in this knee-jerk society we believe that everywhere should be as safe as possible even if it requires surrendering privacy, liberty, and sanity.
Mr. Murphey and all of those dregs who supported this bill in the State House need to find a new line of work. If they are serious about this legislation then they should expand it to the State Capitol and every County Courthouse in the state. What's good for college campuses should be good for everyone else. In my nearly 50 years of life, I can only recall three instances where a raving lunatic opened fire on a college campus. VaTech, NIU, and the guy at the University of Texas back in the late 60's. So it's not like there has been an epidemic of these college shootings. In fact, many more of these events have happened at Jr. High and High Schools. Maybe Mr. Murphey's next piece of legislation should be to require all High School personnel to be locked and loaded. I'm a firm believer in the 2nd Amendment and I own my share of guns. But I feel this bill is a lucicrous idea. Like Lanny said below, leave it to the real professionals.
The police have never driven up on a firefight! Dumb is as dumb writes. You live in la-la land. Talk to the police about that one! Boren knows what he is talking about this time. You will just create a whole new set of problems with this asinine idea. Let "professionals arm themselves," on school campuses! Please leave that to the security, SWAT,and police, not permit-holding(professional)wannabees! Sign up for Afghanistan or Iraq and experience the real thing and you won't have to play war.There are plenty of hired mercenary jobs over there and Halliburton is hiring.
Lanny, I will admit I have never lived in Tulsa, but I seriously doubt there has been one single "fire fight" that the police have driven up on. You act like the school shootings that are the crux of this law happen like you see in the Lethal Weapon movies. Idiotic statements like yours just show you have no clue. We are talking about letting professionals arm themselves on campuses, just like they do when they are patrolling the streets in America or Iraq.
Lanny, the answer is not to arm everyone; just the permit holders who have received the proper training. I've been on campuses in our state and there is nothing special there that prohibits criminals from having firearms. Bert is right criminals are criminals and don't give a hoot about the laws. Just because you and a crap load of intellectuals on our campuses never have gone through firearms training doesn't give you and them the right to doom future victims from defending themselves. Additionally, law enforcement is given extensive training on when they can employ deadly force. Permit holders can only defend themselves (part of the required training), so it wouldn't be the wild west implied by you and others.
So the answer is arm everyone by golly ! The Security and police can tell the good guys from the bad guys during a fire fight by the look in their eyes or something! Why not stash a machine gun under glass like they do fire extinguisher every few feet in the buildings as well? Strap an oozie or two every 50' along every trail. Heck let's arm those kids in college.These ideas are like stomping on raisins.
Pat, All those killed by aan armed shooter also felt I am sure that they were entitled to a safe place to study and learn. as it ended up they stood no chance agaist a person that did not care for the law and decided to shoot anyone in sight. The ones killed and injured had no chance to defend them selves. The only one that obey a law are the law abiding. the criminals do not care what the law says they just know there will be no one there able to stop them
When I was a student at UCO I had a class with an Oklahoma City police officer that most nights had to come to school in uniform as he went straight to work afterwards. He was always armed. I saw no problems with it. So, why not let those who we have trusted to protect us in public carry a firearm on campus? Additionally, why not let those who legally want to have the capability to defend themselves do it? Opponents say it would be hard to ID the "bad guys"? I bet nobody had a hard time knowing the Va Tech shooter was a "bad guy". That is an idiotic arguement. The criminals will always have the upper hand in being able to prey on citizens as long as we have liberal panzies that are afraid to let the law abiding citizens level the playing field.
On a recent visit to the State Capitol, I noticed the "No Weapons" sign and had to pass through a security check with a metal detector to enter the building. As an employee at a higher education institution, surely I'm also entitled to a safe workplace. This bill is a bad idea and it seems the state legislators are among the few that don't understand that.
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Amendment is an "individual" right, how can guns or any arms be prohibited by law? If you have a constitutional right, can that right be taken away by legislation?
Sure, DC has a handgun ban and there murder rate is high, but let's ignore all the other statistics that are the root cause of this.
And sure, let's allow concealed weapons on college campuses...why not?
We all know that there is virtually no chance some hero with a gun on them will save the day during a shooting like at Virginia Tech but they don't care.
So bring 'em on, (like their idol Prez. Bush said) and instead of settling arguments with words, we'll do it with guns.
Between nutty legislators like the sponsor of this bill, Sally Kern, and the rest, Oklahoma is sure getting a great reputation these days, isn't it?
http://www.ok.gov/osbi/Publications/SDA_Statistics.html
in 2007 five carry permits were revoked. Personally I am unsure. Not sure I would have felt more comfortable in collage knowing that some students were carrying weapons. We did have problems at OSU but those were solved by having a group of students that provided escorts to those that were uncomfortable walking back from classes in the evening. Violent crimes happen all the time but in this knee-jerk society we believe that everywhere should be as safe as possible even if it requires surrendering privacy, liberty, and sanity.