 "Photo: Courtesy of MCT")
Due to recent crimes and awareness on campus, some students are feeling the need to pursue a concealed carry license.
A concealed carry permit gives people the ability to legally carry a handgun or another weapon in a concealed manner, on their person, or near their proximity.
A new group, Buckeyes for Concealed Carry on Campus, is advocating restoring the right to carry a concealed weapon on university property to individuals who already have a license.
The founder of the group Michael Newbern, a second-year in mechanical engineering, said the group is specifically looking to restore those rights to individuals with field hand guns. Those individuals who already have a concealed carry license are able to carry their weapons in public places such as restaurants, parks and shopping malls.
House Bill 45 and Senate Bill 17, were passed over the summer, which allowed those with concealed carry licenses to bring their weapons into establishments that serve alcohol. This includes restaurants, stadiums and bars. But still, concealed weapons are not allowed on campus.
Ohio State Police Chief Paul Denton told The Lantern in April that if people are armed in a dangerous situation, it makes it harder on police officers.
"Having other armed individuals will only complicate what's already a confusing and difficult situation," he said. "Our police officers will face the additional problem of identifying who is a friend and a foe, and that places themselves and others at a greater risk."
Newbern said there should be no exception to the law on-and-off-campus.
"Generally those with permits are law-abiding citizens; it is ridiculous to keep law-abiding citizens from defending ourselves. We are sitting ducks right now; our goal is to not remain sitting ducks," Newbern said.
Newbern said he got the idea to start the group on campus from the National Organization of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, though the OSU group is not officially affiliated with the organization.
"I took the ideals and mission from the national organization and applied them to OSU," Newbern said.
When asked about how to address those who are wary of allowing firearms on campus, Newbern said he understands the concerns.
"Honestly, the concern is rooted in fear from Hollywood and their stereotypes of firearms," Newbern said. "The Hollywood image is not what firearms are about. In order to acquire a conceal and carry permit, an individual must be 21 years old and submit a background check. The background check surveys for felonies, mental history and orders of protection. We're law-abiding citizens, not criminals."
Newbern said he wanted to make it very clear that the mission of the group is not to arm all students, but to restore the rights to those who already have a license.
"We want those who are eligible to be able to choose their own method of protection. You have to be 21 to even get a license, there will be no 19-year-olds walking around with guns on campus," Newbern said.
Newbern said the group believes that Columbus Division of Police and University police are doing a fine job, but it is not enough.
"They are doing thankless work and we appreciate what they do, but it is not a strong enough deterrent in the university district," Newbern said. "Criminals prey on us because they know we are defenseless."
The group is currently reaching out to contacts in the state legislation and in the student government.
Nick Messenger, president of Undergraduate Student Government, said having students with weapons would complicate things.
"We've seen a lot of push toward carrying a gun," Messenger said. "I can't stress enough how poorly that could end."
Messenger said there are other solutions to the recent string of crime.
"If you have a student carrying a gun — its self-defense, it's the second amendment, I totally respect the right to do it — but we have to look at solutions that don't just arm yourself to fight back," Messenger said. "We have to find solutions that trend the crime toward zero."
Jess Tyler, a third-year in special education, said she feels in-the-middle about allowing guns on campus.
"It's scary with all of the robberies on campus, but at the same time its dangerous to have guns on campus too. I know the police have them, but I'm not sure everyone else should have one," Tyler said.
Michael Miller, a third-year in art, said that he is against having guns on campus.
"I think that it is weird that someone would want to carry a gun on campus. Even with the rise of crimes and shootings I still feel safe on campus. I would feel more uneasy if students had guns," Miller said.
Newbern said that those individuals with conceal and carry licenses have been responsible so far.
"We've been responsible, we've been doing the right thing. Our question is: Is OSU less responsible?" Newbern said.
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12 comments
Ohio State Police Chief Paul Denton. "Having other armed individuals will only complicate what's already a confusing and difficult situation, Our police officers will face the additional problem of identifying who is a friend and a foe, and that places themselves and others at a greater risk."This has not been a problem anywhere else in Ohio. What makes OSU different?Nick Messenger, president of Undergraduate Student Government, "We've seen a lot of push toward carrying a gun, I can't stress enough how poorly that could end."Please stress it a little more cause I don't understand what you mean. Unless you are making the "Wild West" argument that has been made and proved false State after Concealed Carry State. We have heard this over and over again. There is NO logic, TRUTH or facts to back up this argument but it still won't die. Jess Tyler, a third-year in special education, "It's scary with all of the robberies on campus, but at the same time its dangerous to have guns on campus too. I know the police have them, but I'm not sure everyone else should have one," No argument from me. Everyone else should NOT have a gun. But those who are over 21, have passed the background check, taken the training, gotten the License and are prepared for the responsibility of carrying a gun should have the right to do so.Michael Miller, a third-year in art "I think that it is weird that someone would want to carry a gun on campus. Even with the rise of crimes and shootings I still feel safe on campus. I would feel more uneasy if students had guns,"I don't think there is anything I can say to Michael to change his mind. He has decided based on his emotions, his feeling, that guns are BAD. I know this by the fact that facts don't concern him. He acknowledges that crime and shootings are up and yet "FEELS" that he is safe. I guess nothing is going to happen to him. He should stop wearing his seat belt, stop paying is car, renters/home, life and health insurance. He is safe as long as no law abiding citizens around him are armed.
1. I understand a fear of guns - I used to be as well. Respect is good, healthy, and responsible. Absolute fear of the weapon is dangerous to everybody. Go find a range, find someone who is willing to teach you properly - and learn to shoot before you decide. Then rethink how you feel about guns. Opinions without knowledge aren't very useful here. And facts and figures don't help while you still have that fear. 2. Have a real talk with someone in Mike's group. Ask them how license holders generally deal with situations they find. Talk to them about how most of them generally learn about and practice safety. Then go to the police chief about the same things with the officers. I would be willing to bet that the answers will not be so different about safety, and that the only difference in actions are that licensees try to avoid having to shoot their gun at all costs, where the police sometimes are required to. 3. Go ahead and feel safe on campus. But re-evaluate where you normally spend your time and ask if that's a reasonable feeling. OSU can be a nice place, but it's a fact that there are bad areas, and it's a fact that crime sometimes happens even in nice areas. Ask yourself if you would really still feel the same way if you were required to frequent the places where the crime has been happening most often. Ask the police how long it would take to get to your class if you called them. Ask them how long it would take to get to your dorm, a dining hall, etc. Then put that time on an egg-timer, imagine someone just mugged you at gunpoint, and wait the entire time it would take an officer to get there. This is not a put-down on police, it's a sad reality. Now count how many options you realistically have while that egg-timer is ticking.
Chief Denton would rather you just submit to the criminals than defend yourself and make "it harder" on his officers.
For some reason it's easier for the cops if they deal with a woman who has been raped and strangled with her own panty-hose than listening to her explain the bullet holes in her attacker.