"Gun Concealment Resolution - HB 4005": An FSU Perspective

By Danielle Wirsansky on January 30, 2015

With the Criminal Justice Subcommittee of Florida’s House passing the new gun concealment on campus bill, HB 4005, students are up in arms. The bill must be passed on more levels to become official, but if officially passed, it would allow students on college campuses to carry concealed weapons or firearms. This is not to say that any student on a Florida campus could carry a gun– only students aged 21 or older would be allowed to have concealed weapons with the proper license.

But the right to bear arms is a particularly contentious topic, especially for Florida State University students in the wake of a school shooting that occurred nearly three months ago. So what is the FSU perspective or consensus? Here is a sampling of random FSU students opinions of different ages, genders, and creeds, on the passing of the bill in its early stages.

Florida State University Student Interviews:

Summer Gill
Freshman
Major: Communications
FSU Perspective

“I’m not a fan of guns in general. I’m not ignorant enough to think that we could just solve all the world’s problems by getting rid of guns in general, but at the same time I am adamant in my belief that adding more of them can really only create more problems. Humans are vulnerable to their emotions and college kids even more so. There is the stress of balancing classes, work, money, and generally still trying to figure out who you are. This can be crushingly overwhelming for a lot of college students which is why I don’t understand why putting a deadly weapon in their hands would ever be considered a good idea. Though I was not in Strozier Library the night of the shooting I was very close to it (living in Landis Hall) and had several friends who were there. If this ruling had been passed at the time I feel the situation could have been ten times worse. As it is, three students were hospitalized despite the fact that the FSU and Tallahassee Police were incredibly efficient in their handling of the situation. However, if students in the library had been in possession of guns and attempted to shoot at Myron May who would have been identified as the “bad guy” in that situation? If the police had showed up and seen multiple people with hand guns actively shooting how would they have known who the perpetrator was? And even if they were able to identify the suspect in the heat of the moment, who’s to say that more people wouldn’t have been injured or possibly even killed with more guns thrown into the mix (not to mention being fired by young, scared, most likely unqualified individuals). I understand that it is a second amendment right to possess a firearm, but after having spent a semester on the FSU campus and other Florida state college campuses I can say with conviction that I am not comfortable with the knowledge that any one of my class mates could have a firearm at any time on campus. Students drink and do stupid things regularly and I just don’t see it being safe to make guns legal at the number 12 party school in the country. Overall, I don’t feel safe knowing that anyone can have a deadly weapon.”

Hunter Hamrick
Senior
Major: Political Science
FSU Perspective

“Recently, FSU PD has shown all of the students at FSU it’s complete control of dangerous situations and how it is more than capable of protecting students. My concern about the Concealed Carry On is in regards to some of the students who will be able to get these guns. Having been checked out for a gun may have an impact on pre meditated attacks, but not spontaneous ones. For example, after a drunk night, someone might be really agressive and with a gun in hand might be dangerous.”

 

Kyle Medin
Junior
Major: Environmental Studies/Political Science
FSU Perspective

 

 

“At FSU, we have an effective campus police force (proven so last November) that we pay for with our tuition. We don’t need anyone bringing in their own weapons. More guns only escalate and cloud a situation. If only the criminal has a gun, police don’t need to waste time figuring out who the ‘good guy with a gun’ is and who the ‘bad guy with a gun’ is.”

 

Kaylyn Toomey
Sophomore
Major: Political Science
FSU Perspective

 

“I don’t believe that guns should be allowed on our campus or any other campus in the state of Florida. Having guns in an environment where drug and alcohol use is prominent would not promote a safer atmosphere as proponents seem to think it will. The argument that those in favor of the legislation have been using is that in the case of a school shooting, we would be better able to defend ourselves. I, however, think that the more guns that are involved in the situation, the higher the risks of injury and chaos are. Also, as a minority living in the state of Florida, where Stand Your Ground is law, I would not feel safe with the possibility of extending those circumstances to college campuses. An interesting thing to note is that concealed carry is banned on military based in the United States. If some of the most extensively trained soldiers aren’t allowed to conceal carry amongst each other then what would make college students, with the minimal training required to get a concealed carry permit, more capable? If the Florida State University Student Government Association passed a resolution that declared FSU opposed to HB4005 and SB176, I would be reassured that they have the safety and best interests of myself and my peers in mind. If the FSU SGA passes the resolution, it would make a statement to the legislators in the Capitol that students are here, we care, and we will be heard. As Representative Mark Pafford has said: ‘the answer to gun violence isn’t more guns’.”

 

Haley Vaughan
Junior
Major: Psychology
FSU Perspective

“The gun concealment act does not seem like a wise decision to me. Not many people are trained to handle guns, and probably far less people are trained to handle their emotions. A snap decision could lead to tragedy. Furthermore, who can and cannot bring guns on campus? It’s not as though everyone bringing a gun on campus will be mentally screened for soundness of mind.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shelby Nace
Senior
Major: Classical Civilizations
FSU Perspective

“Personally, I strongly believe guns have no place in our schools or on our campuses. Shootings such as the one that occurred here at FSU and others (Virginia Tech, Columbine, Sandy Hook) are perfect examples of how much devastation guns can bring to the educational environment.If we allow college students to bring guns onto school campuses, we will see more gun deaths and injuries, not less. Instead of allowing guns for “protection,” we need to instate laws that prohibit guns at schools and impose harsh penalties on gun possession. Allowing these weapons on campus only increases the chance of there being a shooting incident, we should be cracking down on gun regulations, not loosening the reigns. The more students we allow to carry guns, the more likely we are to have occurrences such as homicides and suicides on campus.”

 

 

 

Maria Stamatogiannakis
Senior
Major: Elementary Education
FSU Perspective

“I find the ruling on gun concealment to be absolutely ridiculous. Do they believe that adding more guns will resolve any issues? I understand that people believe it will help in the case of self defense, but I believe that it will become an avenue for more school shootings and accidental deaths by guns. As a student studying abroad in England, a country where gun laws are much more strict, I feel safe and at ease. I don’t see why America isn’t trying to take the same approach. Instead of progressing, we seem to be regressing.”

 

 

 

 

 

Nicholas Farrell
Junior
Major: English/Psychology
Florida State University

“Well obviously the recent shooting at FSU affected us all, but I don’t think that an isolated incident like that should be used to shape policy. I am opposed to concealed weapons on campus because I don’t think it is appropriate or necessary. There is always the argument that if more good people have guns we will be safe from the bad people with guns. To me this just results in more guns, and more potentially deadly situations. The amazingly fast response by FSUPD on that night shows that we don’t need gun wielding vigilantes protecting us, because the police are already well equipped to do their jobs. Guns should be handled by the professionals, and left at home by everyone else.”

 

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