phddan wrote:When I started this thread it was 1 dead, and 1 wounded. Now look at the numbers. Very sad day indeed.
Everyone I've talked to the last 24 hrs has been open about what can be done about this kind of situation. Seems to me that people who used to be dead set against guns on campuses are at least thinking about letting faculty and staff, and to a lesser degree the students who are 21, start carrying. With a little polite conversation and gently bringing out the facts, many of these people I felt are starting to come around. The police can not be everywhere, cannot be there in seconds, cameras can not stop a crime, and the only person that can save you is yourself. By the goverment taking away a persons right and means to defend himself/herself, it leaves you a victim. I actually think I seen light bulbs avove their heads.
Dan
I too have had this conversation with others, and you are right, they are at least considering the idea. The one point I used that helped the cause was the airline industry.
We have gun laws to keep guns of the planes, so the terrorists found another way to take control of the airplane. The gun laws didn't keep you safe in the sky, to be safe we have to fight back, and let them know they could meet an armed adversary. This deturrant works so so, but better yet, we have the ability to end an attack faster. So now, American has now determined that having Guns on the planes is a good idea, (pilots only) but why should pilots be different than faculty. The general american public is OK with pilots carrying weapons because they are "Trained Professionals" This is the beginning. From here, we move to responsible citizens. Thats where we come in.
You don't see it here often enough, but I carry as often as I can, and I thank each and every one of you for taking the responsibility to protect yourself, and your fellow americans if it came to that. I just wish one of us were at the school to help out, (if there weren't any gun laws preventing it)