College Students protest by wearing empty holsters
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,304806,00.html
Students Strap On Empty Holsters to Protest Gun Restrictions on Campus
College students across the country have been strapping empty holsters around their waists this week to protest laws that prohibit concealed weapons on campus, citing concerns over campus shootings.
"People who would otherwise be able to defend themselves are left defenseless when on campus," said Ethan Bratt, a graduate student wearing an empty holster this week on the campus of Seattle Pacific University.
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, a group of college students, parents and citizens who organized after the deadly shootings at Virginia Tech University in April, launched the protest.
A national debate over gun laws on campus began in the wake of those shootings, in which a deranged student killed 32 people in a classroom building before committing suicide. It was the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.
Campuses are prime targets for people intent on harming others because laws prohibit concealed weapons there, Bratt said.
But others believe college is no place for firearms.
"You don't like the fact that you can't have a gun on your college campus? Drop out of school," said Peter Hamm, a spokesman for the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
When someone pulls out a gun and starts firing in a crowded environment, it's more likely that additional victims will be harmed, Hamm said.
"Let's be grateful that those holsters are empty," he said.
Click here to visit the Students for Concealed Carry on Campus Web site.
Click here to visit the Brady Center's Web site.
A group of 12 students chose to wear empty holsters to class this week at the University of Idaho as part of the nationwide protest.
Aled Baker, a junior, said he loses his constitutional right to protect himself and others when he steps on campus.
"It's null and void when you go on campus," the mechanical engineering student said.
Baker, a sportsman and hunter, has a license to carry a concealed handgun and hopes the protest will get people talking about the issue.
Many universities, like George Washington University, prohibit carrying concealed handguns on campuses.
"We do not allow weapons on campus for the safety and security of our student body and faculty," said Tracy Schario, spokeswoman for George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Justin Turner, a senior in criminology and history at Florida State University, also wants the ability to carry a concealed handgun on campus.
"I'm hoping that people actually realize that this is something that college students are serious about moving forward and realize that it's not about taking the law into your own hands; it's about taking personal responsibility for yourself," said Turner, chairman of the Florida State chapter of Students for the Second Amendment.
Congress is considering legislation that would tighten background checks and give states funding to submit information to a national database that would prevent guns from being sold to dangerous buyers. House lawmakers passed the legislation, but it remains in the Senate.
"It fixes the problem that the states are not submitting the necessary records of people who have been found by a court to be dangerously mentally ill," Hamm said.
Family members and survivors of the Virginia Tech shootings recently visited members of Congress to urge lawmakers to pass the legislation they believe could help prevent future tragedies.
Students Strap On Empty Holsters to Protest Gun Restrictions on Campus
College students across the country have been strapping empty holsters around their waists this week to protest laws that prohibit concealed weapons on campus, citing concerns over campus shootings.
"People who would otherwise be able to defend themselves are left defenseless when on campus," said Ethan Bratt, a graduate student wearing an empty holster this week on the campus of Seattle Pacific University.
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, a group of college students, parents and citizens who organized after the deadly shootings at Virginia Tech University in April, launched the protest.
A national debate over gun laws on campus began in the wake of those shootings, in which a deranged student killed 32 people in a classroom building before committing suicide. It was the deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history.
Campuses are prime targets for people intent on harming others because laws prohibit concealed weapons there, Bratt said.
But others believe college is no place for firearms.
"You don't like the fact that you can't have a gun on your college campus? Drop out of school," said Peter Hamm, a spokesman for the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
When someone pulls out a gun and starts firing in a crowded environment, it's more likely that additional victims will be harmed, Hamm said.
"Let's be grateful that those holsters are empty," he said.
Click here to visit the Students for Concealed Carry on Campus Web site.
Click here to visit the Brady Center's Web site.
A group of 12 students chose to wear empty holsters to class this week at the University of Idaho as part of the nationwide protest.
Aled Baker, a junior, said he loses his constitutional right to protect himself and others when he steps on campus.
"It's null and void when you go on campus," the mechanical engineering student said.
Baker, a sportsman and hunter, has a license to carry a concealed handgun and hopes the protest will get people talking about the issue.
Many universities, like George Washington University, prohibit carrying concealed handguns on campuses.
"We do not allow weapons on campus for the safety and security of our student body and faculty," said Tracy Schario, spokeswoman for George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
Justin Turner, a senior in criminology and history at Florida State University, also wants the ability to carry a concealed handgun on campus.
"I'm hoping that people actually realize that this is something that college students are serious about moving forward and realize that it's not about taking the law into your own hands; it's about taking personal responsibility for yourself," said Turner, chairman of the Florida State chapter of Students for the Second Amendment.
Congress is considering legislation that would tighten background checks and give states funding to submit information to a national database that would prevent guns from being sold to dangerous buyers. House lawmakers passed the legislation, but it remains in the Senate.
"It fixes the problem that the states are not submitting the necessary records of people who have been found by a court to be dangerously mentally ill," Hamm said.
Family members and survivors of the Virginia Tech shootings recently visited members of Congress to urge lawmakers to pass the legislation they believe could help prevent future tragedies.
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Kudos for Fox for reporting this and a big attaboy for the logical thinking students!
[:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)][:)]0 -
Someone from the brady camp logically tells someone to drop out of school. How stupid is that? 0 -
I Love it.
Did id a few times when i was in college. not to make a statement though, cause i was to damn lazy to take the holster off before class everyday0 -
There may be a few smart Americans out there. 0 -
What?! College students not acting a like bunch of liberal me-too jackasses?!
There's hope for this country yet![^][8D]0 -
Great advice from brady bunch guy... Drop Out! 0 -
quote:"You don't like the fact that you can't have a gun on your college campus? Drop out of school," said Peter Hamm, a spokesman for the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence.
Oh thats bleenin brilliant.
I had meant to participate in this, but havent for various reasons:
Monday: Simply forgot
Tuesday: Going to Sen. Bush rally...wouldnt get in wearing a holster
Wednesday: Missed my train, couldnt attend class
Thursday: Maybe I will today
Friday: No class :P0 -
I loved this story when I read it yesterday. By the way, it was a great litmus test for news sources. Huge difference in the spin from, say, FoxNews to L.A. Times (these are examples; my news sources are much less dramatic -- but I noticed a difference). Times probably didn't even print it. 0 -
I thinking that wearing an empty holster could also work as a great form of protest by CCW holders in regards to the goofey "no firearms" signs posted by many KS & MO businesses (as well a many other states).
For example, strap on a shoulder holster, now that cool weather is here and it is time to start wearing jackets. When you get to your bank (or whatever) secure your handgun in your vehicle, take off your jacket thereby letting your empty holster show, and go on into the bank to conduct your business.
If any business tried to cause you problems for doing this, I think they would look pretty silly about acting like wearing an empty holster was somehow dangerous, illegal, etc. All this just might highlight just how goofey those businesses displaying those "no guns" signs are. After all, even to be legally allowed to purchase a firearm, a citizen must be a reasonably high quality person in regards to the background check. There are probably many employees of those businesses that cannot even pass a NICS check yet those same businesses don't seem to trust lawful, licenses CCW holders.
How hypocritical.0 -
I reckon they got tired of waiting for the NRA to get off their asses and do something!!!! 0 -
quote:Originally posted by tobefree
I reckon they got tired of waiting for the NRA to get off their asses and do something!!!!
Some people only know how to play one note on their mouth harp.0 -
Well I wore it today...got a couple odd looks, but no questions about it or anything... 0 -
I know of several students at davis who brought guns on campus- no one ever knew.
I fail to see how the laws that forbade them to do so have any effect.
Well they have the effect of allowing someone to plan to have a gun when they start a deadly incident, but stopping most people from having a gun to defend themselves when someone else starts a deadly incident.
I'd bet a protest like that here in CA would get you expelled.
Although anti-illegal immigration rallies were allowed here, only because the school paper called them racists, and local illegal immigrant groups surrounded them and threatened them at the protest (why they allowed people who weren't even US citizens, much less UC Davis students on campus to threaten UC Davis students excercising their 1st rights is beyond me..)0 -
I'm not allowed to carry on company property but I leave my empty holster on and prominently carry a large folding knife. The manager gives me evil looks but can't stop it. 0 -
quote:Originally posted by tr fox
quote:Originally posted by tobefree
I reckon they got tired of waiting for the NRA to get off their asses and do something!!!!
Some people only know how to play one note on their mouth harp.
DO RA ME FA SO LA TE DO
I quit the NRA cause they suck so!!!0
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