More RA Students Slain

[Don Dresden]

Michigan: Guns On Campus?

by Ray Kisonas, last modified October 27. 2009 11:06AM

If it becomes legal to bring a handgun into a college classroom, Holly Self of Monroe could be packing heat in her backpack.

The 26-year-old said she supports a bill being debated in the state Legislature that would allow college students 21 and older to carry loaded handguns into classrooms.

"I fully support it," Ms. Self said. "You should be able to carry it everywhere."

Sponsored by state Sen. Randy Richardville, R-Monroe, the bill is being considered by the Senate's Judiciary Committee, which is expected to offer its opinion by November or December. If passed, the measure would prohibit colleges from banning or regulating the possession of pistols or other firearms.

Sen. Richardville said students with proper training and permits had the ability to conceal and carry guns into the classroom or dorms for decades until lawmakers took it off the books in 2002. He said he is hoping to have the measure reinstated because students should be able to protect themselves.

"We've made students vulnerable," Sen. Richardville said. "You have a right to bear arms to defend yourself. All we're doing is bringing back a law that was in place 100 years ago."

But some students are not happy with the idea of allowing loaded weapons into a classroom.

"I'm totally against guns," said Sarai Richter, 23. "I don't think they're doing anything to help society."

During a roundtable discussion with six Monroe County Community College students, the idea was debated with some supporting the idea, while others abhorred the possibility of a classmate showing up armed. Others haven't made up their minds.

Jennifer Niswender, 20, the editor of the student newspaper The Agora, said she is against it. She's worried that having a loaded weapon nearby could be too tempting for a student who might get upset about something, such as a bad grade or a bad breakup.

"I don't like it because I won't feel safe with a gun in the classroom," Jennifer said. "You never know what type of tempers people have. You never know when they might feel high and mighty."

But in order to legally possess a gun in the classroom, the student must have a permit. And some students believe that will not prevent someone from bringing a gun with them to class.

"The guy who walked into Virginia Tech didn't say "Okay, I've got my CCW," said 20-year-old Tara Hubbard. "But there is stopping it. You can stop it. I don't have to take a bullet."

The students agreed, for the most part, that they feel safe on the MCCC campus. And if the law is passed, they don't believe it'll become the wild, wild West at MCCC.

At the same time, Ms. Richter said, a maniac intent on killing will do so, despite any law.

"I have no reason to be afraid," she said. "But if someone wants to shoot me, they'll shoot me."

Ms. Hubbard did not agree. She felt that if she had a gun and someone opened fire, she would at least have a better chance of surviving.

"I'm not going to throw a book if he's got a semi automatic," Ms. Hubbard said. "That's poor defense. I would rather have a gun because if it was me or them, then yes, I would kill someone. My life means more to me. I can stop them."

Some were not convinced.

"I'm against it," said 19-year-old Courtney Salliotte.

"I never felt the need to have one and I always felt safe here. Even if you have a permit, you can still be a nut case. I will not feel safe."

Sen. Richardville said he believes the law, if passed, will have little effect on MCCC because it is small. But he said crimes occur on college campuses, just like in other places, and those with the proper training and background checks to obtain permits should be allowed to carry guns for their protection.

"Rape, assault and murder still takes place on Michigan college campuses," he said.

"You can already carry them elsewhere on campus. But terrorist acts like at Virginia Tech happened to be in the classroom where students can't protect themselves."

Jacob McLaughlin, 19, student government president, said he is still hasn't made up his mind about the idea. He is concerned about armed students in class, but it certainly would help if a shooter entered his classroom.

"You could obviously eliminate that threat," he said.

But Ms. Self added that not passing the law will not prevent school shootings.

"The nut cases are getting guns anyway," she said. "It could happen. I do feel safe here but I would be safer if I was allowed to have a gun on campus."

Ms. Richter is adamantly opposed. She said if it passes, she's leaving.

"I will go out of state; I will not go to a Michigan college if this is allowed," she said.

"I don't think we should let fear run our lives."

Hey Ms. Richter, don't let the door hit you in the ass on your way out.