Should Concealed Weapons be Allowed in Campus? (Essay Sample)

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Should Concealed Weapons Be Allowed in Campus
Mass shootings on campuses have sparked debates about concealed weapons. Some states have passed bills allowing campus carry, while others have banned campus carry. However, a majority of states have given institutions the right to chose whether they allow weapons on campus. Campus Carry has sets of advantages and disadvantages.
Advantages of Concealed gun carry in campus
The carry of a concealed weapon enables one to protect themselves. In cases of emergencies, the carrier of the weapon is able to adequately protect themselves and those around them. In 2007 23-year old Seung-Hui Cho, shot and killed 32 of his classmates and faculty members and wounded 17 others before taking his own life. This was the Virginia Tech shooting (Isong and Morales). It sparked a debate. Proponents of campus carry, argued that the ban made it hard for any of the students to protect themselves during the attack. Concealed weapons enable faster response to emergencies giving local authorities more time to contain the situation.
Concealed carry can be termed as a right. The right to bear firearms is a constitutional right brought by the second amendment. Majority of firearm bearers feel safer by the fact that they have their firearms. The restriction on carrying a concealed weapon is an infringement of gun owners’ rights. Some states have passed bills allowing concealed campus carry e.g. Utah. This right to bear firearms was echoed by the Us supreme court in the landmark case (District of Columbia vs Hellen Keller) provided that the firearm held is used for traditionally lawful purposes, such as self-defence.
Disadvantages of gun carry
It is costly for universities. In states that have permitted gun carry, universities have to incur extra costs of preparing a safer security system. Campus carry in Texas will cost the university of Texas and University of Houston systems nearly $47 million combined over 6 years to update security systems, build gun storage facilities and bolster campus police units by Houston Chronicle (Isong and Morales). This money would have been better spent equipping campus laboratories for research or bettering student welfare. Furthermore, extra money is not being allocated by legislatures to accommodate this bill. This strains universities forcing them to source from their kitties.
Risk of gun violence is also present. Moms Demand Action released a report on the analysis of mass school shootings. Their figures showed that 94 shootings occurred in 33 states since the 2012 elementary school shooting. These included fatal and non-fatal shootings, accidental shootings and suicide. This averaged at one shooting per week. 45 of the 94 shootings, took place in campus colleges (Isong and Morales). This shows the risk of arming and