A student organization is aiming to take safety on campus up a level.
Some states have passed legislation allowing concealed weapons to be carried on college campuses. Most recently in May, Texas gave students and employees the right to carry concealed weapons on its campuses.
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, or SCCC, is a national organization that promotes holders of state-issued concealed handgun licenses should be allowed the same measure of personal protection on college campuses that current laws afford them virtually everywhere else, according to ConcealedCampus.org.
This national movement has sparked the formation of a new student group on Marshall University’s campus. Marshall Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, or MSCCC, is in the process of being recognized by Marshall as a student organization.
According to ConcealedCampus.org, West Virginia is one of 15 states where the state leaves the decision regarding concealed carry on campus entirely to each college or university. West Virginia currently has five colleges with active SCCC organizations.
Jerry Hess, freshman theatre production major from Hedgesville, W.Va., took the initiative to start the MSCCC student group.
“The club is basically about teaching people how to protect themselves,” Hess said.
MSCCC stands to fight for the right of all students to not only carry concealed weapons but to have the right to individually protect themselves, according to its Facebook group page.
“There is a common misconception,” Hess said. “We’re not trying to get students to necessarily have guns. Our organization is trying to carry out the fact that people who can conceal carry until they get on a college campus. We’re trying to make it so that real life is college life.”
Hess said he has faced trouble promoting the group. He said he has had problems with students opposing MSCCC by tearing down flyers on campus.
“Intimidation always comes from opposition,” Hess said. “I support the belief that I don’t agree with your cause. I don’t agree with the fact that you don’t support me, but I respect your right to have that opinion. Why can’t you respect my right to have my opinion?”
According to the student handbook, concealed possession of any firearm by any individual on campus is prohibited and is a violation of university policy. Any individual who is found to be in violation of this policy is subject to disciplinary action, which could lead to immediate dismissal. Hess and members of MSCCC are trying to change this law.
Marshall University Police Department Director of Public Safety Jim Terry wrote the law prohibiting concealed carry on Marshall’s campus but was unavailable for an interview.
“Not to be insensitive, but do you think that the students at Columbine would have been safer had the students been armed?” said Dylan Brown, freshman English education major from Huntington. “Having a gun in your pocket does not make you safe. Making smart choices does.”
Brown said he is opposed to concealed carry on campus because he believes it is simply unnecessary.
“I don’t agree with the idea of carrying concealed weapons on campus primarily because I don’t understand what it will fix or protect against,” Brown said. “I’ve never been in a situation on campus that I felt would be made more comfortable or safer by having a weapon, and while I know my experiences are not universal, I’d really like to be shown some sort of evidence that our campus is an unsafe place.”
Brown said he doesn’t necessarily think concealed weapons on campus will lead to an increase in violent crime on campus. He said he feels it is unnecessary in a learning environment.
“I’d like to see something that proves that we would be better off with an armed student population,” Brown said. “I would not feel safer carrying a weapon. I think that carrying a weapon makes a person more prone to violence, and I think I could do without having everyone around me packing heat.”
Carlton Apgar can be contacted at apgar5@marshall.edu.
Triggering controversy
Group advocates to carry concealed weapons on campus
Published: Thursday, November 19, 2009
Updated: Thursday, November 19, 2009 00:11
 "Photo: SHOLTEN SINGER")
SHOLTEN SINGER
An organization on campus is attempting to have legislation allow students to carry concealed weapons on campus in order for personal safety.
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“Intimidation always comes from opposition,” Hess said. “I support the belief that I don’t agree with your cause. I don’t agree with the fact that you don’t support me, but I respect your right to have that opinion. Why can’t you respect my right to have my opinion?”
[COLOR="Red"]
Because liberals believe that freedom of speech and expression is a right...unless you disagree with them.[/COLOR]According to the student handbook, concealed possession of any firearm by any individual on campus is prohibited and is a violation of university policy. Any individual who is found to be in violation of this policy is subject to disciplinary action, which could lead to immediate dismissal. [COLOR="red"]So what is the consequence for a non-student ?[/COLOR] Hess and members of MSCCC are trying to change this law. [COLOR="red"]If it is a school policy, it is not really a law. Are they trying to change the law so that the school MUST allow CCW on campus?[/COLOR]Marshall University Police Department Director of Public Safety Jim Terry [I]wrote the law[/I] prohibiting concealed carry on Marshall’s campus but was unavailable for an interview. [COLOR="red"]University employees now get to write laws?[/COLOR]“Not to be insensitive, but do you think that the students at Columbine would have been safer had the students been armed?” said Dylan Brown, freshman English education major from Huntington. [COLOR="red"]Hey, moron, Columbine is a HIGH SCHOOL. It's pretty unlikely that any of the students were old enough to have a CCW permit - wait - it waaas in Colorado - sooo - maybeee? [/COLOR]“Having a gun in your pocket does not make you safe. Making smart choices does.” [COLOR="red"]So please describe the not-so-smart choices the students at Columbine made....[/COLOR]Brown said he is opposed to concealed carry on campus because he believes it is simply unnecessary.
“I don’t agree with the idea of carrying concealed weapons on campus primarily because I don’t understand what it will fix or protect against,” Brown said. “I’ve never been in a situation on campus that I felt would be made more comfortable or safer by having a weapon, and while I know my experiences are not universal, I’d really like to be shown some sort of evidence that our campus is an unsafe place.” [COLOR="red"]How may VA Tech students would have said the same thing on 15 April 2007?[/COLOR]Brown said he doesn’t necessarily think concealed weapons on campus will lead to an increase in violent crime on campus. He said he feels it is unnecessary in a learning environment.“I’d like to see something that proves that we would be better off with an armed student population,” Brown said. [COLOR="red"]Compare the past campus shootings where firearms are allowed (or someone went off campus to retrieve a defensive firearm) to campus shootings where firearms are not allowed; then tell me how, based upon facts - not emotion or speculation - that CCW permit holders would create a worse situation. [/COLOR]“I would not feel safer carrying a weapon. [COLOR="red"]Thats fine for you.[/COLOR] I think that carrying a weapon makes a person more prone to violence,[COLOR="red"] look how violent the police are [/COLOR]and I think I could do without having everyone around me packing heat.” [COLOR="red"]Everyone will not be, only CCW permit holders who choose to carry a firearm - just like at the mall, movie theater, walmart, hardware store, Burger King, etc.[/COLOR]
available for inexperience or violent persons