Empty Holsters

Courts and legislatures across the country are deciding whether students and professors can carry guns on campus--but your university might be preventing you from being part of the debate.

Since more than 30 people were murdered at Virginia Tech, debate has raged over guns on campus. Yet, on far too many campuses, FIRE sees censorship instead of real discussions about the merits of permitting students and professors to be armed. These are the stories of students who joined the battle of ideas in order to debate issues of personal safety--and ended up fighting to maintain their First Amendment rights.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• first amendment
• second amendment
• virginia tech
• niu
• gun
• concealed
• carry

[FreedomParable]

Hurray for the First Amendment!

[norcofreerider604]

"Designated free speech zone"? What BS is that!!! America is a designated free speech zone. Deal with it or go to China.

[Bireno]

There's a lot of mysticism and irrational fear surrounding guns.. and it's the driving force behind anti gun politics like this. I can understand the fear... Seeing a random citizen carrying a gun takes your mind to the worst place (especially if that individual doesn't look completely respectable).

It's just how people have been raised/taught.. half the world has extremely strong negative feelings about firearms and will never acknowledge the benefits of an armed society.

[djk84]

@restlesspride666 Guns are barbaric? How?

[FreeAgain2]

the worst thing about the Virgina Tech shooting - is that the shooter reloads often - I think I read he got off 150 shots over a long extended period.

Just one 'sheep dog' could have saved 20 lives or more.

that said - carrying is serious crap and the way the TV promotes a "pistol in your face" culture on all the stupid cop shows, leads me to think that Maturity should be a pre-requesite (like good spelling) for carry.

[restlesspride666]

Guns...how barbaric...

[Sicueft]

I lol'd so hard at the fact that the flyer was inappropriate. How can that douche not even understand how that makes his university look?

[karlsantos]

@theyoda55

The high pressure environment of a University sometimes leads to psychological instability.

Many students and teachers can have a breakdown resulting in the desire to destroy something or kill someone. That will be easier with a gun.

But for me killing the discussion around this is just a dick move.

[PhUTube4Evah]

Feh, how can you be for the First Amendment, but have "no position" on the Second?

[Avestrial]

@pullarius1 sorry about the jerky footage @ PMSC - that was me (Christa) running around w/ no film experience & FREEZING till my fingers were numb! I think the editor did the best he could with it. I hope ppl don't associate my educational message with the guy who was making jokes in poor taste (which is still free speech!) & + private colleges are bound by contract, usually their student handbooks (their version of a contract) have a diversity statement even more thorough than the 1st amendment

[FTTVideos]

@eddiesocket

CCAC is a public university