The shootings done by a few problematic students in American college campuses that killed several students, faculty members, employees and bystanders showed the rationale against the bringing of guns inside school campuses.
Even if the student is enrolled in graduate school he should not be exempted from the ban. I am proposing that no one should be exempted because once there are loopholes in the rules and regulations on the ban a student with personal or family problem can find ways to provide the reasons why he should be exempted. A high profile recent campus tragedy was the one that involved a Korean-American student.An aftermath was Americans started to discriminate any American of Asian descent which may lead to racist slurs. And this kind of incident may blow up and may lead to stereotyping.
Worse schools may soon refuse to accommodate any student of Asian descent based solely of a rare tragic incident. This incident drew some comments about the Korean culture.That Koreans could easily kill others. But suspect, a certain Park, was more American than Korean. His family immigrated to the United States when the suspect, who killed himself after killing others, was just a lad, about four of five years old. This showed that it was more the American culture that led him to commit such atrocity and not his Korean cultural background.
When I am proposing a total ban I am suggesting a complete ban—even faculty members or school officials and personnel should never be allowed to bring any gun—even pellet guns—inside campuses. And those students who would insist they should be admitted to campuses with guns stuck on their waistlines should be instead allowed to finish their schooling through distance education—through the Internet, which are now done by many schools, particularly in the graduate level.The banning of guns in campuses could be later used by local legislators to eventually ban the carrying of guns outside homes to reduce shooting incidents and killings made even by teenagers here in America. The American people should now forget that their forefathers tamed America with guns.
That era had passed and should not be glorified. Another way to discourage the carrying of guns would be through passing local laws making it harder to get a license for a gun. One requirement for an applicant for a license is that he could show he is of legal age, with college education, with work that needs self-protection, like a company cashier, a traveling salesman or one handling money every day.Another requirement could be membership in a bona fide gun club or practical shooting association that holds regular competitions among members. Still another requirement would be passing a psychological test to determine mental stability and that responsible members of the community, like the local pastor, priest or a lawmaker would testify that the applicant for a gun license is a responsible member of society. Of course the gun dealers would not be happy for a gun ban in campuses.
But the dealers could be given incentives like low local taxes or exclusive privileges like accreditation to supply requirements of the local police force or bank security agencies in their cities or towns. Although this a tall order but banning guns in campuses is the first step toward a crimeless campus in America. To implement my proposal could be hard but doable.Aside from having many requirements the local law to be passed should make violators suffer stiff prison sentence and high fines particularly for second timers. I said doable because this is provided under the Crime Awareness and Campus Security Act of 1990 (US Department of Education, ED.gov).
Under the law the national government is committed in ensuring postsecondary schools comply with the act. If every school enforces the act then banning guns in campuses could be one of the means to enforce the law. Do you think this is possible? Of course, yes. First, the law says that no one should take the law in his own hands. If a student has an enemy or he is the son of a president or any king or prince, then he may be allowed to have an armed security officer with him who is trained in the trade.
Second, the campus is for learning.If you have enemies and you need a gun, why bother entering a campus? In the first place you cannot concentrate in your studies if you have fears—real or imagined. As I have suggested, there are other means to get an education. Third, surveillance cameras would make the student feel secure and protected. So why bother arming themselves when we have policemen or even local school security personnel protecting students 24 hours a day. I find no reasons to arm myself—even if I have enemies.
Of course there are cultures that tolerate the carrying of guns since guns are seen as status symbol and sources of power. But this is America. We are not raised as cowboys and Indians but as peace-loving citizens who value freedom. Although we are multicultural, but this not be made a reason that one be exempted by a total gun ban.
I also suggest that school officials should lobby local lawmaking councils in the counties or cities on passing ordinances banning the carrying of guns by students outside their family residence. Dormitories are not places for gun-wielders. A misfire could be tragic. And no amount of explanation is acceptable when a student lost his life.Even all the students are covered by accident or life insurance, but still carrying of guns could not be justifiable action.
Do you think this is doable? Of course it is. By just citing statistics as to the number of campus deaths, any father or mother would campaign for a total gun ban on campuses.You cannot put a price on one’s life. A million or even a couple of million of dollars would not compensate the loss of a single life.
The one who lose his life could be the future president of the country.Memo of Self-reflection The problem is every student’s problem. Because life is so precious the first concern of a student is self-preservation—thus the problem of campus crimes with the use of a gun. My proposal is the best choice because no campus is free of crime. And since it is easy to buy a gun, which is like buying a prescription drug over the counter, the most that could be done is to ban the carrying of guns in campuses. I admit that the solutions were difficult to implement because, first the laws support free enterprise or free trade.
Dealers are free to sell their products to whoever needs them. With stringent laws as to who is qualified to buy a gun could not be possible since this could be seen as state intervention and violation to free enterprise. Second, campus officials could be hesitant for a gun ban since there are many campuses that host gun clubs or ROTC courses where guns are needed for classroom instructions. Third the officials could be gun holders themselves. It would be hard for one who loves gun to be deprived of his toys. Writing for this essay is more based of my assessment and reading about campus violence.
I wrote this as a free flowing analysis of the present situation on campuses. Campus violence often makes the headline news on both the print and broadcast media because every household could have a student or two.Every household is often glued to the TV screen every time a shooting incident occurs in a campus in America. And whatever becomes a headline in America is read or viewed by many households in the world. What influenced me to make this proposal? You cannot concentrate on your studies if your have real or even imagined fears within. This proposal is doable and every student or parent wants this to be implemented.
Of course if I have more time I have to get state by state statistics. From here exemptions could be tolerated.
