The Gun Show
Nick Kosmider and Jesse Mock
A bill that would allow students and teachers to carry guns on college campuses in Arizona came one step closer to being passed on Feb. 25 and members of the MCC community are voicing differing opinions.”I will echo the district’s words by saying we don’t believe having weapons on campus will be conducive to a good learning environment,” said MCC Public Safety Director Steve Corich.
Some, though, feel carrying guns will give students the opportunity to protect themselves.
“I am totally for it (students carrying guns),” said 22-year-old MCC student Brad Hartwig.
He said he feels that those who oppose the legislation have an irrational fear of guns and that people should be able to carry guns anywhere.
Eric O’Brien is also for the legislation, but can see how students carrying handguns to school could be a distraction for other students in class.
“I could see a problem if the student can see the gun. There could be problems learning in class.”
Other students on campus do not share the same sentiments for the proposed legislation.
Sophomore Elena Barlow is confused why any student would want to carry a gun on campus.
“What are you going to do shoot someone if they get you mad at them?” Barlow said.
The bill was passed 4-3 by the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Republican majority and will now go to the Senate Rules Committee.
The bill, which would allow gun owners who obtain a concealed weapon permit to carry a gun at Arizona’s colleges and three state universities, has drawn criticism from public safety directors across the state.
Arming students with guns will make the job of certified officers more difficult, according to Corich.
“If we were to encounter a situation we could very easily have a difficult time figuring out who is friend and who is foe if everyone is firing,” he said.
State Sen. Karen Johnson proposed the bill citing the recent shootings at Northern Illinois and Virginia Tech as reasons that students need to be armed on campus.
She said students in shooting situations often have no time to defend themselves and help often arrives too late.
In order to receive a Concealed Carry Weapon Permit (CCW) applicants must complete an eight hour course.
At the end of the course applicants must qualify with their weapon by passing the shooting portion of the class.
For more see “Legend’s View” in Opinions.
