Really very happy to see this finding from the 1st District Court of Appeals. It is about time that the assertion by officials at universities in Florida (and elsewhere) that they can resist state preemption by considering themselves "school districts" was called out for its absurdity. Isn't it clear that the assumption that underlies such policies is that the young people we send to college are too out of control, too impulsive, too uncivilized, too violent to allow them to exercise the rights they are allowed to exercise everywhere else? What does that say for our view of our students (and faculty)? I can only hope that this decision will ultimately lead to a step in the right direction for all schools in the Florida State University System, putting them one step closer to allowing those of us who work here to have some reasonable way to defend ourselves.
Some of the comments in the story deserve attention:
"I am looking forward to getting my concealed weapon, but I don't think it needs to be on campus for the simple fact that having weapons on campus heightens things to get more violet," said UNF junior Susan Kurilla (the misspellings and such are theirs, not mine).
- Ah, you are clearly the product of our education system, misinformed and illogical. How does having weapons on campus make things more violent - perhaps you should read some of the tragic tales of violence on campuses where lawful carry of gun are prohibited. Are we assuming that there are we are over-run by potential shooters who do not act out because the university president establishes policy that says they can't have a firearm on campus? Kind of like "Oh, well, I was thinking I'd shoot-up campus this week, but I do not want to get expelled for violating policy"? Really. Are our campus really bastions of safety? (See my previous posts on this matter). Gun-free zones and safety-free are defense-free zones and experience tells us that shooters know this.
"I feel like you should have the right to protect yourself, but at the same time I think it opens doors for more bad things to happen," said UNF junior Megan Mclain.
- Well, this is a clone and probably enough was said. Just another emotional and illogical statement with no shred of evidence to support it. Why do you think this? Because Sung-Hui Cho brought weapons onto campus and killed people? But weren't the weapons he brought already against policy, illegal? Did the policy dissuade him? Might just one armed potential victim have persuaded him to take his own life that much sooner? Again, are you saying that you and your peers are that immature, that uncontrolled, that untrustworthy that we cannot allow you to exercise rights that others can (or that you can when off-campus)? How does being on campus change this?
If only people would think through their positions, instead of just "feel" things.
"Just our protection. Our personal protection," Bratton said.
- That is it, plain and simple...there is no reason that I, because I work on a college campus, should not be able to take charge of my own personal protection. The campus police you say? Where were they at VT? How long did it take for them to respond there and at Sandy Hook? Why, because I work on a college campus, should I be required to "die in place" when I might be able to defend myself? That is not your damned choice to make for me.
No, I am not a ninja, not an "operator", not an LEO. I do not want to be. But I am a military veteran, well-trained in the safe and effective use of firearms of all kinds, and an individual who does not wish to give over the responsibility for his safety to others. I have a CWFL which allows me to carry concealed. I train on a regular basis. I can defend myself and in so doing defend others.
I am not talking about clearing buildings, about hearing the alerts and going on the offensive. I am talking about defending myself, my students, and co-workers should a shooter enter our area intent on running up a body count. I am talking about doing what I can to avert such a tragedy and, quite frankly, dying on my feet and not on my knees begging for my life as so many others have died in shootings in gun-free zones. Cowering in fear, begging for humanity from inhuman animals while waiting for someone to save me is simply not in my plan.
I hope this decision by this appeals court is one step closer to giving me back that natural right.
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