Gun control has always been a bland issue for me. I never got heated over whether I had the right to carry a weapon in my backpack. Of course, the idea of the person sitting right next to me packin' heat, as they say on the streets, petrifies me, but that issue has never slapped me in the face like it has recently here at Ball State University.
There was an Associated Press article published lately that shared the intriguing and slightly disturbing information that 20 percent of people within Ball State's age demographic have some form of personality disorder. Most striking to me was what triggered the investigation on a topic like mental illness. To quote the article, "The study authors noted that recent tragedies such as fatal shootings at Northern Illinois and Virginia Tech have raised awareness about the prevalence of mental illness on college campuses."
So, atop the vulnerable emotional state of our generation and the rising risk of school shootings and violence, there are students here on campus vying to carry concealed weapons.
I'm sure these people really and truly are great Hoosiers at heart - I'm sure most of them go to church, always eat their vegetables and never give cause for any kind of ruckus. I'm also sure they are some of the many youths terrified by the previously mentioned school shootings. But, really - guns?
As a victim of gun violence, I do in fact see their point; I grew up in a neighborhood where there were a lot of shootings and a lot of death. Louisville's west end was pushing at least one fatality a week within a 10-block radius. I am not some unattached outsider trying to spread the freedom of love and rid the world of all hateful things. There was a very bitter point in my life when I too thought, "if only I had a gun." I thought that if I had had a gun, I would have been able to defend myself. But in retrospect, that was the wrong way of thinking.
If I had countered my "opponent" with my own weapon, he wouldn't have been scared of me - he wouldn't have rationally put his gun down to avoid confrontation. He would have shot me in the ever-loving face. He had a gun! The kind of people who carry guns are not the kind of people who are afraid of short blond girls with another gun. Further, I never would have shot him. I do not think it would have been, or that it will ever be, physically possible for me to pull the trigger.
I am assuming that these advocates are interested in carrying concealed weapons for fear. I concur that school shootings are scary, especially when considering that we are students in a school. But I also strongly believe that people are, for the most part, good. Even in the face of an enemy they would not have the strength to kill another human being. What you see on TV makes shooting to kill look simple and unemotional. It makes the trigger seem so insignificant. But when you're actually facing someone, pointing the gun at them, the irrevocability of the trigger is unavoidable.
It is that moment of hesitation that most people experience that causes more havoc than if they had never had a gun at all. I've witnessed it. A faltering finger is something that a psychotic gunman feeds on. Allowing students to alter an established law with intentions of catering to blinding fear will not stop the shooter from going rampant, and merely having the presence of more guns in the room will not make the situation better.
Fundamentally, people are nuts. As it said in the AP article, we all are at a "particularly vulnerable" age group. Too many things can go wrong when a bunch of sleep-deprived, nutrient-deprived, emotionally unstable students trying to figure their lives out are running rampant with weapons. I sympathize with these people who feel so insecure that they need a gun. But as long as they're trying to obtain them I feel that it is imperative for the rest of the Ball State population to work toward keeping firearms out of our community.
Jessica Mahanes is a freshman journalism major and writes 'A Liberal Dose' for the Daily News. Her views do not necessarily agree with those of the newspaper.
Write to Jessica at jlmahanes@bsu.edu
10 comments
If the attacker had known that there were armed citizens present than he would certainly have chosen a “Gun free zone” to attack as those who commit such crimes always do.
Believe that its OK to do a good job of CYA and even occasionally set up another "take the fall" for your mistakes because; hey, you know that life is dog eat dog? Potential "personality disorder" lurking there....
It's a matter of degree and what you do with it that counts. Many people walk this life moderately depressed, continuously angry, nervous or manipulative and do not act on any truly murderous thoughts because they can generally control themselves and get nothing more that a reputation of "wall flower", "sadsack", "jerk" But for the truly out of control; "Gun free zones"= "target rich zones" . Ever hear of a mass shooting, armed robbery, rape at a firing range? Police station? Firearms store? I put my revolver in my pocket for the same reason I put on my seat belt. If I somehow KNEW I was going to be in a car accident, I would not leave the house. If I somehow KNEW I was going to be in a situation that would require me drawing that gun, I would not be in that situation. However, I do put on my seat belt and carry a gun because IF they were ever needed, nothing else will do
You may be correct that they aren't afraid of the girl, but they cannot disrespect that firearm, just as you couldn't. Not every dangerous situation can be solved by carrying, in fact most can't be, and anyone who thinks otherwise definitely shouldn't be carrying. "Further, I never would have shot him. I do not think it would have been, or that it will ever be, physically possible for me to pull the trigger."
Then you are correct, you should never carry. Had you pulled a weapon you were unwilling to use against an assailant with a weapon, you would have likely become the victim of your weapon, or theirs. May I ask you, the fact that the law said your assailant was doing something illegal, did that stop him? If you are concerned that someone is going to go nuts, do you think that the law, or the rules, is going to stop them?By all means love as though you die today, because you will die today (tomorrow never comes), but why shouldn't my love for you help keep you safe by offering a chance of stopping that possible future assailant?
Indiana law does not prohibit licensed persons from carrying concealed firearms on college campuses - that is strictly a matter of college policy.
And how does the current policy have any effect whatsoever on the armament situation of criminals, persons having a personality disorder, psychotic gunmen, etc., etc.
I might add that a "good person" does not allow a murderous thug to go on to other victims by sacrificing him/herself if he could have stopped them. Such self-sacrifice is anything but good, and such a person is an accessory to all later victimizations.
There is nothing good about surrendering your right to defend yourself (and others).