Quote:
Originally Posted by bots
I was hearing that in Utah, the students at that college are allowed to visibly carry guns into classes. It's impossible to secure that area with laws that allow that
Also, the 2nd ammendment that allows carrying guns is viewed as a fundamental right and freedom, yet acts of violence like this will stifle freedom of speech because many will now be too scared to speak out. How will that be reconciled
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Open carry is very rare. Usually most conceal carry (creates the same issue you are talking about). It's hard for me to personally fathom carrying a weapon as a college student. I don't think I could be fully responsible for a gun in that environment given everything else going on.
That said, concealed carry is really inconvenient so in the vast majority of cases people don't exercise this right. For women, I can see it being more useful for walking to and from courses if they're doing a night study program. But usually for women, it's more common to keep weapons in their vehicle instead as it is considered part of their domicile in a fair amount of states, so thus legal to store in vehicle. But maybe they had history on that campus with someone and so it might be beneficial for them, similar to how some carry pepper spray on their person.
To the second part, I am still processing the idea of that being necessary on campus. We have legalized open carry here and it is incredibly rare to see anyone OC.
Instinctively... I wouldn't say Americans in pro-gun states would have the reaction you mention to the presence of guns at all as they are much more accustomed to it. Comfortable enough some people may even form their own campus security on a per dorm basis to deal with a perceived decrease in safety levels. They do this in some churches.
In middle ground or high gun control states, this wouldn't be a law anyway because guns are more stigmatized there and having gone to college in both environments, the comfort of the students would come first above all. Even if CC were allowed in state (usually requires a reason and lots of paperwork through state police), almost guaranteed schools will have them banned. If it is not something students are culturally adjusted to, it wouldn't be a second thought.
So somewhat related, in TX a local business can by their own choice post up a specific sign with the relevant penal code to make it illegal for armed citizens to carry a firearm on their premises. It's only a Class C misdemeanor, though. There's two, one prohibits Open Carry but allows Conceal Carry. The other prohibits both CC and OC.
For schools I am not sure on laws regarding students here. There was talk of allowing teachers to carry. Not sure if that passed. I can only say for an adult student, the idea they would carry a gun on their person doesn't carry with it the kind of stigma we are talking about that it should effect speech.. if anything, it would make some feel safer. This is why generally though why people widely prefer concealed carry because of the element of mystery (are you armed or not...?)... and in some ways open carry carries more risk because it draws attention to that person and if the weapon is not secured properly in a locking holster, it can be seen so it can taken off of them potentially.