Dallas Morning News 05/27, 05/28/15

[jimlongley]

Letters 05/27/15 featured this screed against campus carry, under the title "Keep Guns Off Campus":

I recently received a letter from my state representative, Ron Simmons. He wrote to thank me for my support of the House version of proposed campus carry legislation and future consideration of SB 11. Boy was he wrong!

I contacted his office to express my opposition to this legislation, explaining that as a teacher in a public college, the last thing I needed in my classroom was a student who is unhappy with their grade on an exam who carries a concealed handgun. This could possibly be a recipe for disaster.

Simmons told me of his belief that government should protect our lives and property, but he seemed to forget about me and other college teachers who return assignments with grades that are unpleasant to students. While most students accept bad news with initial embarrassment, sadness or a request for future extra-credit opportunities, it takes only one frustrated student to pull out a gun.

My having a gun would not help. I also find it interesting that campus carry would not be allowed at college sporting events. Why is this exemption more obvious than what I could potentially face in my classroom?

Rhonda Miller, Carrollton

And my answer published on 05/28/15 under the title, "Concealed Carry: The key is 'licensed'":

I would like to know if Rhonda Miller has taken into consideration that concealed handgun license holders are, as a group, much more law abiding than the general population?

Does she really think that someone who has gone through the effort to obtain a CHL, a process that includes training, tests, and multiple background checks, is really going to be so unbalanced as to pull a gun because she gave them a bad mark?

And the person will also meet the age criterion for obtaining a CHL. We are not talking about an 18-year-old freshman who rabidly thinks that your mark was unfair. We are talking about someone at least 21 and mature enough to go through the process of obtaining a CHL.

And just food for thought: Are you sure that that student you just gave the bad mark to, the one you have always felt was a little off, is not carrying? Do you think the law would stop him?

This is somewhat akin to the predictions of blood running in the streets from fender benders turned into gun fights, and is just as wrong. CHL holders deserve to be allowed their privilege wherever.

Jim Longley, Allen



The 200 word limitation makes it tough to say everything that needs to be said, but I think I got the point across.

[thatguyoverthere]

So, I wonder. Does Ms. Miller, and others with a similar view, believe that they are protected from murder or mayhem in the classroom because the potential perpetrator is prevented from legally carrying firearms on campus?

Offended student says to himself: "Gee, I'd like to use this unlicensed handgun in my pocket to shoot the teacher who gave me this bad grade, but since I'm not allowed to legally carry on-campus, I guess I won't be able to do it."

How many different ways can a person say it? Lawbreakers don't care about laws. Let those who DO care about the law, have a chance at protecting themselves.

[The Annoyed Man]

Ms. Miller....... Let's take guns out of the picture entirely for a moment. How often have you been threatened by a student with a knife for giving him/her a bad grade? And yet, that same student CAN kill you if they are upset enough. How many times have you had a student, upset over their grade, lie in wait for you outside the classroom with a baseball bat in hand? How frequently are you assaulted with fists, box-cutters, cafeteria forks, pens, or books by a student who is upset with the grade you gave them? And mind you, I'm asking specifically about instances where you've been attacked by students who are younger than 21 years old and have never passed any kind of background check......and who may already have CHL-disqualifying police records. Are you also afraid that if one of your students was, unknown to you, an off-duty police officer with a concealed handgun that he or she might try to kill you over a bad grade?

NONE of these things has ever happened to you? Really? Then what is it about a duly licensed and background-checked person already 21 years old or older that frightens you into thinking that it is the GUN that would make that person unreliable? Particularly when (meaning no offense to LEOs) it is a statistical FACT that your CHL holder is less likely to be criminally inclined than a licensed peace officer?

Silly woman.






You have permission to use some version of the above as you see fit. I've already posted my response there.

[jimlongley]

In reply to both, I would have said it exactly those ways, but the 200 word constraint got in the way. I was hoping the implication of my "Food for thought" statement would get the point across.

[Deltaboy]

More proof that being educated does not give you common sense.