Viewpoints: Guns for self-defense increase safety

Read the opposite viewpoint here.

THE ISSUE: Some states are weighing the possibility of allowing students to carry concealed firearms on campus. Gun rights advocates claim such liberty allows for self-defense and would increase campus safety. Others believe that allowing concealed weapons poses a serious risk to students. Today, two members of the editorial board weigh in on this unique conception of campus protection.

Except for police and security officers, guns are prohibited on college campuses in North Carolina. This policy only serves to limit the rights of responsible adults and actually makes campuses less safe.

Public officials in North Carolina are considering liberalizing gun laws to allow them to better defend themselves. Legislators should follow other states and consider giving students more self-defense options as well.

First, banning guns on college campuses goes against the spirit of the Second Amendment. Law-abiding adults with gun permits should be allowed to bear arms.

I am not advocating for guns in all schools. A college campus is a fundamentally different place from a school for younger students. University students are adults, and students and employees should be allowed the choice to carry guns for self-defense.

Most college campuses are open to the public and serve a variety of purposes. Universities are often the sites of athletic events, conferences and political protests that draw crowds of people who are not students for purposes that are not educational.

Second, gun restrictions could actually be making campus less safe. John Lott is famous for his “more guns, less crime” theory. The argument might seem counterintuitive, but it is actually pretty simple: When criminals commit a crime, they want to reduce the risk to themselves. The more likely they are to come into contact with a law-abiding, gun-carrying citizen, the more risky it becomes to commit a crime.

The mere possibility that a potential victim might be able to defend themselves with a gun makes everyone safer. North Carolina’s campus gun ban is like a flashing red sign inviting criminals to commit crimes on campus. As is, the policy turns students into targets.

The shooting of U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords in Tucson, Ariz., has led public officials all over the country to reevaluate the implication of gun restrictions on self-defense. The event was a shocking and tragic reminder we will never be as safe as we want to be and the ability to defend ourselves does matter.

The members of the General Assembly are taking concerns about their own ability to defend themselves seriously. Recently introduced House Bill 184 would allow elected officials with concealed carry permits to carry guns almost everywhere in the state. Bills have also been introduced to give district attorneys and probation officers more gun rights.

The legislation would protect politicians and criminal justice professionals, but it doesn’t help students. Lawmakers in several states, including Arizona, Texas and Colorado, have introduced legislation to allow people to carry guns on campus. North Carolina legislators should do the same.

Taylor Holgate is an editorial board member for the Daily Tar Heel. She is a senior journalism and political science major from Cary. Contact her at holgate@email.unc.edu.