To the editor:
A set of articles was published in the most recent edition of The Vanderbilt Torch that weighed the pros and cons of allowing concealed carry on campus. Douglas Kurdziel headed up the pro-gun control side of the debate with his article “Mo’ Guns, Mo’ Problems.” While clearly written passionately, it revealed many of the common misunderstandings about the push to legalize concealed carry on college campuses.
Kurdziel claimed the pro-concealed carry argument “goes too far in assuming that all Vanderbilt students (even those who would pass a background check and other tests) would be responsible enough to use a firearm only in appropriate situations.” He failed to acknowledge that the carry rate in the general population is only 1 percent, and since applicants must be 21 or older, there would only be around 30 armed students among the 6,000 undergraduates. Secondly, the background check for a concealed carry permit is not the “instant” check that is performed at gun stores, but a much deeper examination performed by the FBI which includes a mental health evaluation. Because of these precautions and the training license holders receive, I think we can be confident in their judgment.
Kurdziel claimed, “The goal of concealed carry legislation is to prevent (events) like Virginia Tech ... an extremely rare occurrence.” This just isn’t true, or at least severely limiting. Concealed carry is a form of self-defense, and the legislation is intended to allow students to defend themselves from any sort of criminal. This includes everything from Cho-style executioners, to would-be rapists and armed burglars waiting outside a parking garage. While campus shootings are rare, other crimes are much more common.
Contrary to Kurdziel’s belief, students wouldn’t be able to carry handguns “whenever they wanted.” Of the three places he listed, “class time, football tailgates ... and drunken Saturday nights at the frats,” concealed carry is legal at one, as the distribution of alcohol at the others would make carrying a concealed weapon illegal. Carry is also illegal at public events like football games, so you needn’t be worried about a deranged fan’s emotional distress.
Finally, he asked if “you trust the police department, Vanderbilt’s emergency notification system and other safety measures to protect you on a day-to-day basis”? Although I can’t speak for everyone, the answer is clearly “no.” Setting aside the years of court decisions and legislation emancipating the police from any specific duty or responsibility to protect you, there is one thing these services have in common that makes them ineffective for personal protection. They are all reactionary. Unless VUPD wants to hire several thousand armed guards to follow us around everywhere we go, they cannot protect us from every threat.
Erik Soderstrom
Freshman
College of Arts and Science
