Spring Break
Amateurs with guns in classroom bad policy
Eric Hill
Issue date: 5/1/09 Section: Forum
Whenever I read or hear arguments from those who claim that the only way to maintain safety in my classroom is for me to allow students to bring in concealed weapons, I find myself trying to imagine how it might work. I see problems, not the least of which has to do with some basic physics.
Let's take a 20-by-20 foot classroom, arm 20 students, and then have them all come out shooting at the first sign of danger. Can you say collateral damage? There's nothing friendly about that fire. This scenario, by the way, could just as easily apply to a church or office.
If you want to post a professional at my door - a police officer, a soldier, someone who knows what he or she is doing - I can see a different outcome. One individual who is trained to react carefully in a dangerous situation is worth so much more than 20 permit-packing amateurs.
"But," they argue, "if you don't let us carry guns into your classroom, no one will be safe." This is called a false dilemma, which brings me to my second point.
Those who campaign so vehemently to remove the ban on concealed weapons on campus haven't said a word about any other possible alternatives except to shoot them down the second they are brought up. I have a theory that this might be because these people are being disingenuous about what they really want.
If your actual concern is about safety, why not take all that energy, all those rifle raffles and flyers and letters, and tell the university that you want security measures to ensure that there are no weapons in the classroom? Why not airport security measures? Too expensive, one student said to me. Well, I would argue that the alternative is far more expensive.
Another student complained about this option, saying that having to go through a security check might make him late for class. My solution? Get up earlier, Sleepy Man. Whether you need to catch a flight or class, be prepared and show us that you mean business. Better late than "late."
Let's take a 20-by-20 foot classroom, arm 20 students, and then have them all come out shooting at the first sign of danger. Can you say collateral damage? There's nothing friendly about that fire. This scenario, by the way, could just as easily apply to a church or office.
If you want to post a professional at my door - a police officer, a soldier, someone who knows what he or she is doing - I can see a different outcome. One individual who is trained to react carefully in a dangerous situation is worth so much more than 20 permit-packing amateurs.
"But," they argue, "if you don't let us carry guns into your classroom, no one will be safe." This is called a false dilemma, which brings me to my second point.
Those who campaign so vehemently to remove the ban on concealed weapons on campus haven't said a word about any other possible alternatives except to shoot them down the second they are brought up. I have a theory that this might be because these people are being disingenuous about what they really want.
If your actual concern is about safety, why not take all that energy, all those rifle raffles and flyers and letters, and tell the university that you want security measures to ensure that there are no weapons in the classroom? Why not airport security measures? Too expensive, one student said to me. Well, I would argue that the alternative is far more expensive.
Another student complained about this option, saying that having to go through a security check might make him late for class. My solution? Get up earlier, Sleepy Man. Whether you need to catch a flight or class, be prepared and show us that you mean business. Better late than "late."
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Viewing Comments 1 - 2 of 3
Christopher Smith
posted 5/02/09 @ 8:46 AM PST
I'll respond to this the same way I did the other, maybe you can give your reasons you didnt want to before. I'd love to have some different perspectives. (Continued…)
JPC
posted 5/08/09 @ 11:54 AM PST
"Why not airport security measures? Too expensive, one student said to me. Well, I would argue that the alternative is far more expensive."
This makes no sense whatsoever, but it must be true if a professor wrote it. (Continued…)
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