HDC Weekly Debate #4: Gun Control in School Campus - Thumbs Up or Thumbs Down?

[_____V_____]

A lot of related threads and articles which sprung up during the Virginia Tech Massacre pointed basically at one thing - was the banning of weapons from college campuses really justified?

On one hand, student leaders argued that allowing a concealed weapon after being approved of a permit was a must, and it could have helped in avoiding what happened at V-Tech.

But counsellors and university staff, who are upholding it more strictly, still believe that "with all the altercations, stress, drinking, not getting enough sleep, getting stoned, grudges...the last and worst thing would be is to add a gun or a weapon to the equation."

But can strict gun control policy really stop some students from breaking the rule? If someone wants it, he ll get it. And keep it. Some would break the rule just for the heck of it. Which makes me bring to your notice, right now as I type this...how many students all across the US are in their college campuses WITHOUT a concealed weapon on them, or in their lockers/bags?

What about those who wish to protect themselves? Here, I d like to quote from a movie, "I d better be with a gun and not use it, rather than not have one when I need it the most." Gun rights activists are justified by this argument.

There are two equal sides to the coin - will there be a spur in similar incidents and upsurge in violence if such a possible step is taken in the future? Or do we want a strict gun control policy, which might eventually lead to another V-Tech situation, and leave the students at the mercy of the gun-toting rampager(s)?

Your take.

[urgeok2]

what the fuck ?

some nut brings a gun to school and starts shooting - people think they're better off if they pull out their gats and start shooting back ?

THEN how many people get killed ? the nut's victims plus all the other collateral damage kids ?


no guns, no knives.
until civilization gets turned in the right direction - there should be security in the schools and metal detectors.


dont like that ? too bad. i dont want my kid shot in the head because he was passing by at the same time some other kid felt 'dissed'

i didnt spend my life as a parent keeping him safe and teaching him how to respect others - just to have some piece of garbage kill him by mistake (or on purpose)


sensitive subject right now - because 2 kids have been knifed in 2 highschools in the last 2 weeks .. one of them at the end of my street in a 'nice' neighbourhood.

[Despare]

I think people should have the right to be armed if they want to but NOT on or even around a school campus. Simple as that for me.

[_____V_____]

Maybe that topic needs a bit of editing. I was thinking of college and typed "school campus" instead.

Anyway...violence in schools or colleges hasnt receded in recent times. Like Urge just pointed out, "knifing" or "taking out" incidents are on the rise, actually. Most schools or colleges in the suburban areas are witnessing such kind of incidents at an alarming rate.

Does the gun control rule make a student rebellious? Like for example, "they want to get strict with ME...I ll show em what strict is!" - kind of attitude.

[newb]

I'm gonna quote Mr. Ronnie Van Zant


It's the Saturday night special

Got a barrel that's blue and cold

Ain't good for nothin'

But put a man six feet in a hole

Big Jim's been drinkin' whiskey

And playin' poker on a losin' night

And pretty soon ol' Jim starts a thinkin

Somebody been cheatin' and lyin'

So Big Jim commence to fightin'

I wouldn't tell you no lie

Big Jim done pulled his pistol

Shot his friend right between the eyes

chorus

Oh, it's the Saturday night special

Hand guns are made for killin'

They ain't no good for nothin' else

And if you like to drink your whiskey

You might even shoot yourself

So why don't we dump 'em people

To the bottom of the sea

Before some ol' fool come around here

Wanna shoot either you or me

[Despare]

Originally Posted by _____V_____

Maybe that topic needs a bit of editing. I was thinking of college and typed "school campus" instead.

Anyway...violence in schools or colleges hasnt receded in recent times. Like Urge just pointed out, "knifing" or "taking out" incidents are on the rise, actually. Most schools or colleges in the suburban areas are witnessing such kind of incidents at an alarming rate.

Does the gun control rule make a student rebellious? Like for example, "they want to get strict with ME...I ll show em what strict is!" - kind of attitude.

College is still school so my answer still stands. I disagree with violence in school being on the rise.


VIOLENCE IN US SCHOOLS



Rate Per 1,000 Students Ages 12-18


Unfortunately I don't have the most current info but if anybody does let me know.

[urgeok2]

Originally Posted by Despare

College is still school so my answer still stands. I disagree with violence in school being on the rise.
.

i dont disagree at all..

in todays culture - i'm willing to bet most incidents dont get reported.
- unless it's impossible to hide it

(being threatened with a gun or knife is still violence as far as i'm concerned)

[_____V_____]

It surely has.

Not only in the US but worldwide. Especially in places like Australia and the UK.

Is it a rebellious silent response from the average violent teenager, or a flaw in maintaining gun/weapon control?

And what about the punks from outside who raid schools at their own whims? There hasn't been much control exercised on that front yet.

Originally Posted by urgeok2

i dont disagree at all..

in todays culture - i'm willing to bet most incidents dont get reported.
- unless it's impossible to hide it

(being threatened with a gun or knife is still violence as far as i'm concerned)

Exactly.

In numerous instances, most of such incidents go unreported too.

[Despare]

Originally Posted by urgeok2

i dont disagree at all..

in todays culture - i'm willing to bet most incidents dont get reported.
- unless it's impossible to hide it

(being threatened with a gun or knife is still violence as far as i'm concerned)

Less are reporting violent threats but more are actually reporting being bullied. I'm sorry but while we see these violent results more thanks to the media and there are more major incidents violent crime and murder are both down in schools. Lest us not forget that up here in Michigan way back in 1927 we had the most violent school massacre thanks to an idiot and a bomb. I'm not trying to argue but I feel it's arrogant of us to think that we live in a time where the worst of everything is happening. Yes some reports go unreported but why on Earth would more have been reported 30, 40, or 50 years ago? If anything thanks to global media we see or read about more of them today. How many people in Spokane, Washington do you think heard about the Bath, MI massacre? Today people all around the world would be reading about it.

[Doc Faustus]

It kind of comes down to being able to tell when somebody's a paranoid schizophrenic and not selling them weapons. The Virginia Tech kid was a flashing red light. I'm all for the right to bear arms and don't want to infringe on anybody's rights, but the blind don't make good pilots and people on anti-psychotics probably shouldn't have firearms and we have to make such distinctions. Also important: understanding when a paranoid schizophrenic student might need to take some time off and making sure students don't bully people dealing with blatant psychosis.