Concealed Guns in Classrooms Research

It is to the public that Texas has been having fatal school shootings for decades which lead to loss of many lives. For instance, in August in 1966, Charles Whitman opened firearm at the University of Texas leading to death of sixteen students and causing major injuries to 31 people within the campus premises (Stearns, pg 307). In another case, July 12, 1976: Edward Charles Alleyway, a librarian in the California State University, Fullerton, deadly shot 7 of his fellow workers and injured other two more employees. Generally, guns have been part of Texas for decades, but the Lone Star State indicates a different world. Due to increased cases of mass public and school shootings, the Texas government has greatly embarked on gun licensing and ownership. This law was and is received by many in different views.

Gregory L. Fenves, the president of Texas, argued that the decision whether to or not permit concealed guns carry on school is tough but as a president he had an obligation to just uphold the law. He had to uphold the law after the Texas Gov. Greg Abbott signed the measure authorizing carry on campuses of public colleges and universities According to research conducted by the national Rifle Association, approximately 38% of households in Texas possess guns and 25% have privately-owned handguns. First of all, permitting concealed guns in learning environments would definitely distract the campus environment from being a healthy learning and studying setting. This is because students may probably feel uncomfortable and insecure over knowing either their fellow student or professor is carrying a gun.

This creates fear of arguing or holding debates because one is afraid of possible retaliation in the campus (Louise Gerdes). Other dangerous risks of allowing students and teachers or professors to carry concealed guns within the campus classrooms included: concealed weapons in the learning environments would cause more risks of schoolings in Texas rather than reducing; it will be very challenging for the concealed carry permit holders to deter any possible shooters in the campus; the so called “concealed gun holders” permitted to carry firearms in campuses are not always law-abiding citizens, meaning that they can be very hurting, harming, dangerous and threatening in the learning environment; and last risk is that these concealed gun holders may lack law enforcement training and may lack knowledge and skills on how, where and when to use such guns.

I can imagine how hot-tempered concealed gun permit holders would react when wronged or differ with their fellow comrades or professors. Therefore, concealed carry on campus guns are of no use in the learning institution. In conclusion, there is no need for students and professors carrying concealed weapons while in campus buildings or classroom settings. This is because campuses are places where people come to increase their power of knowledge, improve their skills and learn new ideas. Colleges and universities are not battlefields where students need to worry or have anxiety whether their fellows have concealed firearms or not. The university should look for sufficient security officers to maintain and improve the safety levels in campuses. , and Mark R. Joslyn. "Gun policy, opinion, tragedy, and blame attribution: The conditional influence of issue frames.