Arguments for gun ban are flawed

By August Meyer

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‘Allowing weapons on campus would invite bloodshed and a return to the “wild west”!

This is an argument that I often hear, but which is not based in either history or reason. In reality, the “wild west” wasn't even the way that Hollywood depicts it. I am not aware of a single historical incident of two men squaring off in a street and quick-drawing against each other. It probably happened at some point, but if so, it was the exception and not the rule.

I am the founder of the University of Iowa chapter of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus. Since the start of this organization, I have been receiving many emails voicing concern over allowing weapons on campus. I want to address some of the other common arguments I hear.

“We don't want drunk, emotionally unstable 18-25-year-olds with guns.”

I hear this argument constantly, and it is flawed in many ways.

I am not advocating that we arm the student body. Only that those already licensed to carry a weapon be allowed to do so on campus. Even if allowed, there would be very few concealed carriers. Iowa law requires a person to be 21 before obtaining a permit. This eliminates a good portion of the student body.

Of those over 21, only a very small number would ever bother applying for a permit to carry and pass the background checks. Of those who do get a permit, only a fraction would ever bother to carry their weapon. So we are talking about a very small number of students who would ever be carrying a weapon.

Also, Iowa law states that a permit to carry is invalid if the permit holder is intoxicated. I often hear that drunken students would never obey that rule, but for some reason they will obey the rule about not carrying a weapon without a permit.

“More guns equals more people shot.”

If you believe the argument that the more guns you have in an area the more people will be shot, then the corollary would be that there would never be any such thing as a campus shooting since guns are illegal at most colleges. Instead, all shootings would occur at gun shows. Anyone who thinks this through will understand the absurdity of attempting to massacre innocent people at a gun show.

Having a place declared as a weapon-free zone is an invitation to criminals to commit crimes without fear of retaliation. Only those who obey laws will pay attention to a sign banning weapons.

The law-abiding citizen looks at this sign and says “I disagree with it, but I will respect your wishes.” The criminal doesn't pay attention to these signs. The only thing a weapons-free zone does is to ensure that the only people with a weapon are criminals.

Utah and Colorado already allow concealed weapons on many of their college campuses. There have been no resulting incidents. We have seen that allowing weapons on campus does not lead to an increase in violence.

In Iowa, permit holders are allowed to carry at grocery stores, movie theaters, Walmart, malls and virtually everywhere else. Everywhere you go, there are honest, law-abiding citizens who are licensed to carry a weapon. These individuals have shown that they are not a danger to others off campus and there is no reason to believe they will become more dangerous on campus.

August Meyer is a University of Iowa senior and a founder of the UI chapter of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus. Comments: ui.sccc@gmail.com. For more information, visit www.concealedcampus.com.