We asked college students if they think firearms should be allowed on college campuses.A Columbia University student argues that gun ownership plays a vital role in American culture.
Mike Dalton, a broadcast journalism major at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, finds that most undergrads at his school are uncomfortable with the idea of students carrying weapons.
Other students weigh in on this controversial subject:
"Personally, I don’t feel comfortable at the thought of someone with a Solo cup in one hand and a holster on his waist. I think that to prevent another Virginia Tech from happening, professors need to pay more attention to their students and security needs to be beefed up on college campuses."
- Ashley, Georgian Court University
"I don't think that students should be allowed to carry guns on campus. College can be extremely stressful and can lead to unclear thinking. Also, many college students are taking advantage of their freedom from their parents and tend to have quite a drinking life. I think that this kind of environment is extremely dangerous for guns."
- Katarzyna, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
"I do not think students should be allowed to have guns on campus. I think this poses a risk for the student who owns the gun and for the students who live in close quarters to that student. Many college students are only 18, and I feel as though many students would not understand the responsibility that comes along with having access to a gun. I believe it is just an unnecessary risk to allow guns to be used in schools."
- Taylor, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Janet Alexander, an organizational studies/media studies major at Pitzer College, asks the director of residential life and the associate dean of students about the wisdom of allowing students to carry guns on college campuses.