I’m Really Struggling With This… Guns On College Campuses

[Happy Head]

My first diagnosis of PTSD came following an incident where I was held at gunpoint on my college campus. So a lot of things association with guns scare the crap out of me. Well, over the years (this happened 12 years ago), I’ve learned to live with the anxiety that sometimes ensues when I’m reminded of the event. I am also a graduate student very close to getting my doctorate. I am also in a state that is soon to pass a bill that will allow guns on college and university campuses – so long as the person meets the state’s conceal/carry law. Regardless of my incident, I find so many things wrong with this. There are so many potential disasters that could happen. The past 3 days (since the news hit that the bill was close to being passed) my anxiety has been through the roof. The one place where I feel (felt) safe is now being turned into a battle zone for me. I dread the day when I have to go teach to my students not knowing who is packing… I don’t know if I can do it.

 

[intothelight]

Hi Happy Head,

My company does a lot of security work for educational institutions; and to be honest I am horrified by the thought of guns on campus. Most of our work is geared to prevent, or document, vandalism, theft, drug violations, violence, sexual assaults, etc., and it is absolutely counter intuitive for institutions to spend money on security and then undermine it with eliminating learning institutions as gun free zones. Vigilante mentality is not an answer to media hype.

Sad thing is, I am not opposed to personal possession of firearms and my family does own guns. I just think there are places they don't belong. I also think that maybe if the media was more responsible in its reporting, people would see that more college students are killed by alcohol abuse in one year than have ever been killed by school shooters since records have been kept.

Time to get off my soapbox again. Clumping away with my square shoes.

 

[Happy Head]

oh, I'm totally with you on the personal possession issue... and agree that they don't belong on a college campus. PTSD aside, there are just way too many issues at stake here. What worries me too is that our state senators are more concerned with 'reacting' to a situation rather than 'preventing'... why can't we worry more about people's mental health before it leads to death and destruction... just think of how many other things it could help prevent... rape, suicide, alcohol poisoning...

 

[cakey]

I am kind of in a similar boat. One of my traumas involves having a gun pointed at me in a city. Instead of running from guns, I somehow ended up with one which lead to this delusional state of mind that people wanted to kill me, and that I would have to use one, one day.

I know it's no condolence but as a student and I would never bring a gun to campus. Fights aren't even common at schools. Let alone weapon violence. School is my safe place too, but lately that's been taken over for me as well... Struggling a lot lately just to sleep and stay motivated. Anyhow, I hope things get better for you. We're in this together.

 

[No Folded Hands]

This one bothers me; it's tough to know what to say.

While I don't wish to start a debate, acrimonious or not ;), it always bothers me that people really believe US citizens have a Constitutional right to own any kind of gun they want to, just because they want to. That's not what the Bill actually says. Being a former military member who took an oath to support and defend the US Constitution above all else (which we are never released from), it's tough to keep silent when the Bill gets misquoted. Shall we just say, for the purpose of this topic, that I do not go by the idea that it's okay for anyone here to own any type or number of guns for any purpose or no purpose?

Another, seemingly conflicting, point is that apparently too many people have the idea that any veteran woth PTSD is liable to go ballistic and start shooting everyone in sight at any moment for no reason whatsoever. This is hardly helped by the fact that disabled vets are given a few benefits by state and federal poclicy, such as discounts on hunting licenses. I don't disagree with the discount, but civilians already freaked by the idea of a vet with PTSD holding a gun can find it frightening. Another facet of this one is the actual or pretended fear of the vet shooting one person anytime there is any conflct with that person. I had that one used on me when an attempt was made to flunk me out of a class due to my disability; it was rather odd to need to explain to police that I do not own a gun and have no permit to carry concealed. It was not necesarry to add that I worry gun ownership may mean I might kill someone without intent before my frontal lobes caught up in a sudden danger situation such as some drunken fool trying to break in after a football game or because he is visiting a friend and got the wrong apartment one dark night. There are other, better ways to deal with that kind of thing, but with PTSD, you have to be realistic about how hair-trigger your responses really are.

If there are places to carry guns and places not to, then a school campus is most definately a place NOT to, in my opinion. What legitamite purpose would be served by having a gun on some of the kids taking classes? None whatsoever. The possible answer to that, that it's their right to carry deadly weapons anywhere they please, is a specious one. No one, anywhere, at any time, should ever carry something which has no purpose other than being a deadly weapon just to say "NYAH!!! I can do this so I am!". And to be brutally frank I have seen far too many kids here and now who are too interested in trying out life without limits away from Mom and Dad for the first time to trust them with guns. Perhaps the politicos need to stop worrying about being "politically correct" and take some serious thought about pros and cons?

Happy Head, can you talk to your Congressman or woman, get some input to some organization that might have some influence on this? Even if noit before the thing is passed, it is always possible to go right ahead and try to get it unpassed too! Teacher safety is certainly a valid concern.

Hope no one is offended by this rather candid tirade!

 

[anthony]

What the hell are kids doing with guns? That just baffles me!

 

[catjudo]

What the hell are kids doing with guns? That just baffles me!

Just a few days ago, a local police officer near where I live was killed (shot) by a 16-year-old kid! Obviously this kid did not have the gun legally, but it's just disgusting!!

(This also did not happen on a college or school campus, so sorry that it's slightly off topic.)

 

[Happy Head]

Thanks all for the response. Here is the link to the bill http://www.legis.state.tx.us/BillLookup/BillStages.aspx?LegSess=82R&Bill=HB1167 (click the "history" or "text" tab for more info) There are many of us on my campus who are writing letters and trying to get the message to the other campuses as well. Most of the university presidents are also against this bill which leads me also to wonder why the law makers are so adament about passing it. One thing that has crossed my mind is the identity of the state - Texas. Texas is nationally and internatioanlly known for it's rough and rowdy reputation. (I'm not a native Texan so feel free to joke away... :D)... Part of me wonders if it is soley to protect that identity. "We're Texans, we carry guns"... I don't know...

 

[anthony]

My understanding was that Texas also has one of the lowest death rates for gun violence, because it allows people to openly display and carry arms! I believe the psychology behind it, which is proven to my knowledge, is that firstly you risk being immediately shot by another if you pull a weapon on someone, secondly, the state has the death penalty for anyone killing another intentionally. Is this correct from what I have read previously?

 

[mysihba]

I really hate to enter into this. I respect everybody's belief system and hope you will do the same. In most places in the U.S. it is still legal to own guns. Many places allow concealed carry but the restrictions vary. Anthony, I believe you are correct re. Texas. In fact the real stats. show reduced crime in areas that encourage concealed carry and more crime in those that restrict it the most. I don't want to argue the 2nd. amendment. I think it's pretty clear unless one is simply against gun ownership. That is your right. It is mine to own and carry one, if I meet the criteria which is set by local law Enforcement, Not the federal Govt.

Respectfully, and emotions aside, what troubles me the most are those that think they are safer in a gun restricted zone ; safer if only cops carry guns and would prefer to be a victim or have their loved ones become victims to having an "evil" gun to prevent the same. "Active Shooters" are everywhere in the real world. In schools, in Churches, at restaurants, etc., and another point of fact is the shooter years ago at the Texas University? who was shooting from the top of the building was prevented from shooting many more victims than he did, by the intervention of legally armed Texas citizens, the active shooter recently in a Colorado church stopped by a lady with a concealed permit. How about the recent multiple shootings at that big Army base in the U.S. where army personnel were not allowed to carry guns.

I would propose the following. A well trained normal citizen who has both the desire to get the appropriate training, the will to sacrifice to save innocent people saves many lives. Chose your stand based on facts, and a personal decision based on your willingness and determination to do what it takes... to not be a victim and not allow loved ones or even strangers to become victims. Some choose this path others do not. It's a personal choice.

Please allow me my personal choice as the life I save may be yours.

Anthony, I don't think this is a place for gun debate but due to the post I think it's appropriate to do a self-check on what fears are rational and not. No matter ones views I can't think of a place that has more "victims" of one kind or another, than right here. So is it wrong to challenge ones belief system when many of "us" have irrational fears from what we have lived through and been robbed of life in the process. It is a mind set. Not really a gun issue. Get rid of irrational fears and refuse to be a victim in whatever form one can live with.

I'm just responding with challenging personal beliefs here. I will not respond to judgmental gun debate. Anthony, if you choose to delete this I understand completely, but I welcome meaningful, non-judgmental chat about this.

 

[anthony]

Australia doesn't have guns, and thus we actually have little gun related death as a result... so they aren't an item of fear here essentially. Whilst you can argue, the bad guys can still get guns... its not that easy for them here to get them, and then once they are known about, they are gone. You can safetly walk the streets pretty much 99.9% of locations at any time without fear of violence... so not really an issue in this country. The 0.01% of places are known issues to locals. Getting a gun in Australia... you are looking at something like: 0.000001% of the population would own one (making a point). That much of a minority that having one would bring immediate attention to you.

I would hate to quite honestly live in a country with guns at the local store. It is to easy to pull the trigger... simple as that compared to fighting with a weapon or fists... not quite as easy, so already a deterrent to a greater extent IMHO.

These debates have been here before, as long as people keep it clean, all is well.

 

[Innordinate]

I owned a gun when I was 12 until I was about 16. Probably got me in more trouble than anything else and way to easy to grab and pull the trigger when I was depressed. I did once. Being in the state of mind I was in I forgot to load the stupid thing. Not sure if I was lucky or not. A later suicide attempt - not using my gun, resulted in a friend telling my parents I had one and they got rid of it before I was home from the hospital.
I don't like guns. I don't like laws that allow people to walk into walmart and leave 10 minutes later with a gun. I have 3 kids and would probably be even more paranoid if guns were common place for just anyone to have here.