North Carolina State University recently acknowledged but does not support a student advocacy organization that promotes concealed handguns on campus, joining other universities in addressing student concerns over safety in the wake of recent campus shootings.
Students formed Students for Concealed Carry on Campus at NC State, a chapter of a national organization and Facebook group of the same name, as an advocate for student safety following the shootings at the Northern University of Illinois in February and Virginia Tech last April. The University of Utah made similar measures to allow students to carry weapons on campus earlier this year.
Group member Ches McDowell, an NC State freshman, said school shootings require drastic measures because they involve “deranged” individuals.
“These people cannot be reasoned with and must be stopped by force before they can kill and maim innocent people,” he said.
McDowell said in the event of a school shooting, licensed and trained students and faculty would not pose an additional hazard to student safety, but could help stop a potential tragedy.
A concealed-carry holder is five times less likely to break state or federal laws than the average citizen, McDowell said.
“When the campus police, despite their best efforts, just aren’t quick enough, responsible gun owners can save lives,” he said.
NC State spokesman Mick Kulikowski said there are already heightened campus safety provisions in place because the university is similar to Virginia Tech in design and specialty, which may unnerve students.
“Gun-concealment on our campus, however, is certainly not something we advocate,” he said.
Kulikowski said advanced siren systems, text-messaging notifications and police protocol would deter potential shooters.
Larry Pratt, Gun Owners of America executive director, said a “crazed shooter” who does not care about his life or the lives of others will not follow rules prohibiting firearms on campus.
“Students can’t retaliate with warnings and cell phones,” he said. “The American people are extremely responsible with guns . . . It’s time we trust licensed university personnel to fend for their own security in the event of an emergency.”
John Rosenthal, one of founders of Stop Handgun Violence, a nonprofit organization committed to preventing gun violence, called combating gun violence with additional firearms “an exercise in sheer insanity.”
“Paranoia, fear and firearm concealment should not coexist with education,” he said. “That is a recipe for further disaster.”
Rosenthal, a licensed handgun owner, said students carrying firearms threaten school security rather than protect the school from potential intruders, regardless of licensing screenings.
“Bad breakups, ceaseless taunting and countless other situations can cause a seemingly sane and competent individual to snap and resort to violence,” he said.
He said universities should pursue national reform instead of consenting to vigilante justice, demanding federal laws that allow for background and identification checks for gun buyers.
“Taking guns away from dangerous people should be the incentive here,” Rosenthal said.