# Why would someone need a gun on a college campus? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 20, 2017, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-need-a-gun-on-a-college-campus/777599 "2017-01-20T03:08:49Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![boffking](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/858c86/32.png) [@boffking](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/boffking)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 3:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-need-a-gun-on-a-college-campus/777599/1 "2017-01-20T03:08:49Z")
> **[Hedgehogs, hunting wear and a host of peculiar bills in the Maine Legislature](https://www.pressherald.com/2017/01/10/hedgehogs-hunting-wear-and-a-host-of-peculiar-bills-in-the-maine-legislature/)** > > Those are just some of the more unusual legislative requests that will be considered this year. The bill I am wondering about is this: “Rep. Richard M. Cebra, R-Naples, proposes legislation to “enhance safety on college and university campuses” by allowing firearms to be carried on the campuses of public colleges and universities.” Maine is a constitutional carry state, but guns are still not allowed on college campuses. What benefit does it give to allow students to bring in guns? Considering the stupid shit I saw students do when I went to school on a campus instead of online, I don’t think adding firearms to the mix is a good idea. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 3:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-need-a-gun-on-a-college-campus/777599/2 "2017-01-20T03:13:19Z")
In case you didn’t notice, there have been several mass shootings on college campuses. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-need-a-gun-on-a-college-campus/777599/3 "2017-01-20T03:25:20Z")
There have also been a number of sexual assaults as well. (Note: I am not saying that guns would necessarily be a good solution) ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 3:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-need-a-gun-on-a-college-campus/777599/4 "2017-01-20T03:25:53Z")
Apparently there are schools where grizzly bear attacks are an issue. ---
**Author:** ![snfaulkner](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snfaulkner/32/433_2.png) [@snfaulkner](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snfaulkner)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-need-a-gun-on-a-college-campus/777599/5 "2017-01-20T03:27:39Z")
Because you never know when there will be a red dawn. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-need-a-gun-on-a-college-campus/777599/6 "2017-01-20T04:04:08Z")
Obviously, for ROTC. “A well regulated militia…” ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 4:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-need-a-gun-on-a-college-campus/777599/7 "2017-01-20T04:05:47Z")
It’s a zero sum game - someone needs a gun on a college campus because someone else may be carrying one. ---
**Author:** ![IvoryTowerDenizen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ivorytowerdenizen/32/17937_2.png) [@IvoryTowerDenizen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/IvoryTowerDenizen)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 4:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-need-a-gun-on-a-college-campus/777599/8 "2017-01-20T04:06:10Z")
Makes office hours so much more interesting! ---
**Author:** ![kopek](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kopek/32/337_2.png) [@kopek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kopek)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 5:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-need-a-gun-on-a-college-campus/777599/9 "2017-01-20T05:34:13Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > Obviously, for ROTC. “A well regulated militia…” You laugh but I was on Pitt’s rifle team and sometimes carried my rifle (cased and locked) around campus until I could get to Trees Hall or to the ROTC offices where a locked area was available. And I also have to admit that I carried it on public transportation (bus) to and from campus. But that was a much different time — or at least it feels like it. There had been some college shootings (like the famous Texas Tower incident) but the threat from Oakland traffic seemed a lot higher to us than any firearm. ---
**Author:** ![drewder](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@drewder](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/drewder)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-need-a-gun-on-a-college-campus/777599/10 "2017-01-20T05:46:16Z")
The more places where guns are allowed the fewer places criminals feel safe attacking. Mass shootings take place almost exclusively in places where guns are not allowed and when criminals are interviewed they definitely are less comfortable attacking people in locations where their victim may be able to fight back. Also I’m much happier with a rapist with a hole in the chest than a girl who has been raped and strangled to death by her own pantyhose. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-need-a-gun-on-a-college-campus/777599/11 "2017-01-20T07:54:40Z")
Why would anyone choose to go to a college or university where guns were thought of as normal things to carry about? 😕 ---
**Author:** ![Evan\_Drake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@Evan\_Drake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Evan_Drake)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 9:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-need-a-gun-on-a-college-campus/777599/12 "2017-01-20T09:17:13Z")
An armed college is a polite good-grade giving college. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 9:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-need-a-gun-on-a-college-campus/777599/13 "2017-01-20T09:23:27Z")
As long as there are Neidermeyers and Marmalards around, college students need to be armed. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 9:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-need-a-gun-on-a-college-campus/777599/14 "2017-01-20T09:37:13Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > As long as there are Neidermeyers and Marmalards around, college students need to be armed. I thought those must be very famous/infamous gun victims or gun shooters of whom I had not heard, and felt stupid. Having Googled them, I’m not sure whether to feel more stupid, or less.:smack: ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 9:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-need-a-gun-on-a-college-campus/777599/15 "2017-01-20T09:47:40Z")
You may not see a good reason to allow it. Fair enough. But there is no good reason to specifically oppose it. Anyone seeking malfeasance will not be stopped by one law. And universities that allow it\* haven’t had any incidents. \*Looks like 3 specifically allow it, and several others don’t specifically prohibit it. One is a very conservative state, and two are generally liberal ones. > [@Guinastasia](#): > > There have also been a number of sexual assaults as well. (Note: I am not saying that guns would necessarily be a good solution) A local woman was raped on campus in public by a guy who later murdered another woman. She later became a concealed carry advocate, FWIW. I don’t know whether it would’ve helped her, but she seems to think so. > [@kopek](#): > > You laugh but I was on Pitt’s rifle team and sometimes carried my rifle (cased and locked) around campus until I could get to Trees Hall or to the ROTC offices where a locked area was available. And I also have to admit that I carried it on public transportation (bus) to and from campus. But that was a much different time — or at least it feels like it. There had been some college shootings (like the famous Texas Tower incident) but the threat from Oakland traffic seemed a lot higher to us than any firearm. Also FWIW (so I am absolutely not offering it as data, just an anecdote), though Whitman was ultimately killed by police, an armed citizen assisted them. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 10:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-need-a-gun-on-a-college-campus/777599/16 "2017-01-20T10:19:04Z")
> [@Celyn](#): > > Why would anyone choose to go to a college or university where guns were thought of as normal things to carry about? 😕 If you live in the U.S. in most places it’s thought of as normal. Anytime you go to the grocery store, gas station, restaurant, etc., there’s a chance someone is legally armed. I anxiously await your “_Yeah, but_…” ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 11:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-need-a-gun-on-a-college-campus/777599/17 "2017-01-20T11:07:53Z")
> [@drewder](#): > > The more places where guns are allowed the fewer places criminals feel safe attacking. Mass shootings take place almost exclusively in places where guns are not allowed and when criminals are interviewed they definitely are less comfortable attacking people in locations where their victim may be able to fight back. Also I’m much happier with a rapist with a hole in the chest than a girl who has been raped and strangled to death by her own pantyhose. So the answer to reducing crime and death is more guns. Are you suggesting that for countries with very strict gun laws could reduce their crime rates by introducing more guns for everyone? ---
**Author:** ![Alley\_Dweller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alley_dweller/32/430_2.png) [@Alley\_Dweller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alley_Dweller)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 11:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-need-a-gun-on-a-college-campus/777599/18 "2017-01-20T11:33:17Z")
And even if they make the college campus 100% safe, students and staff need to go home and go to work before and after school. They might need protection at night in a bad neighborhood. ---
**Author:** ![ZPG\_Zealot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e47c2d/32.png) [@ZPG\_Zealot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZPG_Zealot)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 2:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-need-a-gun-on-a-college-campus/777599/19 "2017-01-20T14:09:41Z")
> [@Guinastasia](#): > > There have also been a number of sexual assaults as well. (Note: I am not saying that guns would necessarily be a good solution) Banning alcohol at parties on campus or banning men from being in women’s dormitories (which would also require bringing back single sex dormitories) would be more effective. That said, I work on a campus 5 to 6 days a week and I am highly opposed to the students carrying guns on campus. All it really does make more work for the campus police and escalate the danger everyone is in if there is an actual active shooter. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [January 20, 2017, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-need-a-gun-on-a-college-campus/777599/20 "2017-01-20T14:31:52Z")
> [@ZPG\_Zealot](#): > > All it really does make more work for the campus police and escalate the danger everyone is in if there is an actual active shooter. Can you show us significant data that backs this claim up? How is campus carry any more hazardous than people carrying at your local Walmart or a park? Also remember, in most states one must be 21 to conceal carry. So a large portion of the student body would be excluded. So this idea that the campus would be awash with guns is nonsense. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-would-someone-need-a-gun-on-a-college-campus/777599.md?page=2)