US NEWS
Student Group Wants More Guns on Campus
2007-11-21 07:44am
An 8,000-strong non-partisan student group wants rules changed on most U.S. campuses to allow concealed carry of guns, in an effort to curb firearm-related deaths an violence.
Mike Guzman, an economics major at Texas State University-San Marcos and former Marine, said the issue is about the right of self-defense.
"Here on campus, we don't have that right, that right of self defense," he told The Associated Press.
The group was formed following a series of deadly shootings on American campuses.
Every state but Illinois and Wisconsin allows residents some form of concealed handgun carrying rights, with 36 states issuing permits to most everyone who meets licensing criteria.
Most states ban license-holders from carrying weapons on campus. In states that allow it, they usually let the schools themselves decide - and most forbid it. Utah is the only state that expressly grants students permission to carry concealed weapons on campus.
Not all students agree the idea has merit. Some say arming students would only make matters worse.
Advocates for a change in the rules, however, agree with Mr. Guzman in that students should be allowed to protect themselves.
(c) 2007 Newsroom.