Introduction
It is important to note that although the Second Amendment is a critical part of the United States Constitution, it should not infringe or supersede the First Amendment or any other part of the law. Considering the fact that campuses are places where academic freedom and freedom of speech are practiced at their core, enabling the carry of guns poses a threat to the First Amendment. Some states are integrating concealed gun carry laws on campuses, which can be considered an attack on knowledge, freedom, and intellectual integrity. The main reason is that higher education institutions are the bastions of open speech and discussions. The stasis theory is the most useful and will be utilized for the given public argument since it involves a policy, facts, value of education and life, as well as cause and effect. Therefore, campuses should not allow the carrying of guns because it increases the risk and escalation of violence among students, diminishes the First Amendment, and puts academic educators at risk.
Escalation of Violence
Firstly, one should be aware that any form of violence is a result of the confrontation, which escalated to a violent form. Guns are ultimate killing instruments designed to be highly effective at ending one’s life at a range. Introducing them into an environment where confrontations can take place due to the exchange of opinions or thoughts and a competitive environment can result in easy escalation. Michael Thompson, the chief of police at Arizona State University, stated that “I’m here to tell you from first-hand experience that university students make very poor decisions on a daily basis, sometimes hourly basis” (Hammer, 2022, para. 3). In other words, the authoritative figure argues that there is no justification to exacerbate the ramifications of the wrong choices made by inexperienced and learning students.
One side might argue that allowing guns on the campus protects students from mass shooters. For example, when there are violent individuals, a gun owner can respond more effectively instead of waiting for help (Okafor, 2017). The other side can claim that “guns on campus might only exacerbate the potential for confusion during mass shooter events” (Martin, 2018, para. 31). However, studies show that the opposite is true because guns on campus lead to “more gun homicides and suicides, more nonfatal shootings, and more threats with a firearm on college campuses” (Everytown, 2020, para. 7). The reaction is more visceral rather than logical due to a select number of unfortunate incidents. It is reported that “studies have widely shown that states that allow easy access to guns saw the most gun violence” (Aborn, 2017, para. 2). In other words, the campuses without guns are safe and do not require a risky move in the form of allowing guns to improve an already acceptable figure.
Second Amendment vs. First Amendment
Secondly, although the Second Amendment should be respected and honored, it does not mean that its applicability extends with no boundaries because doing so diminishes other Constitutional rights. According to the Supreme Court, campus gun laws are not a matter of the Second Amendment, as many gun lobbyists claim, but rather the preservation of validity of laws intended to forbid firearms in sensitive places (Everytown, 2020, para. 4). It should be noted that “the presence of guns on campus creates an environment hostile to teaching, research, and learning and thus “chills” academic freedom and free speech under the First Amendment” (Somers & Phelps, 2018, p. 2). A threat of gun violence can breed intellectual dishonesty and the loss of academic integrity, where conversations become politically driven instead of exploratory (Sakariassen, 2022). Campuses are designed to invoke discussions and debates, which is an essential part of the educational process.
Students need to be able to express themselves freely and openly to tackle, identify, and address the major issues, and most students do not want guns hindering them from these opportunities. It is stated that “the results of the comprehensive review of the available 17 empirical studies on campus carry attitudes provided evidence that individuals within the campus community are primarily against the policy” (Hassett et al., 2020, p. 57). However, it is easy to see how one can be more restrained or reluctant in expressing his or her voice when there is a risk to his or her life at all times if the healthy debate turns into an active confrontation. Criminal experts argue that “the myth that letting more law-abiding citizens carry firearms increases safety and decreases crime has proved stubbornly hard to dislodge” (Donohue, 2022, para. 12). The escalation point of such an incident would end with a more manageable fistfight with far less severe health consequences than a gun shooting.
Educators
Thirdly, allowing carrying guns on campus puts academic educators at risk. One might argue that even if a student is afraid to voice his or her opinion on campus, it is possible to do it online through forums. The statement is problematic due to the fact that the availability of alternatives does not make the campus gun laws more justifiable. In addition, the presence of firearms on campus also threatens the professors and other members of the faculty. It is found that LGBT, racial or ethnic minority, female faculty members, and faculty members with disabilities become even more fearful for their lives and ability to work under such laws (Somers & Phelps, 2018, p. 1). The chilling effect is even worse against the most vulnerable groups, which include faculty members from minority backgrounds.
Since educators are unable to express their own thoughts in a creative and sometimes controversial manner, the gun permitting laws make professors more reluctant to invoke active debates and discussions. Some might state that universities did not see a spike in gun violence or intimidation (Ellis, 2017). However, the effect might be gradual and cumulative with the long-lasting diminishment of academic freedom on campus.
Conclusion
In conclusion, guns on campuses threaten the First Amendment, academic integrity, and escalated violence. Even without referring to facts and expert opinions, it is apparent that the emotional aspect of the issue cannot be overlooked. Guns invoke feelings of fear and anxiety, which is even true among those who own or carry them. A gun owner most likely wishes never to have to use them since such situations are undesirable and dangerous. Campuses are places where curiosity and excitement should take place. Students are already burdened by massive debt and academic responsibilities, which is why there is no justification to further worsen their emotional and mental well-being. Thus, campus gun carry does not make a student feel safer. It makes no impact at best, but can promote violence, academic dishonesty, and suppression of free speech at worst.
References
Aborn, R. (2017). Opinion letter: Gun violence on campus. The New York Times.
Donohue, J. J. (2022). The Supreme Court’s gun decision will lead to more violent crime. The Washington Post.
Ellis, L. (2017). Austin bars provide gun-free haven for UT grad students and platform for protest. Houston Chronicle.
Everytown. (2020). The danger of guns on campus. Everytown Research & Policy.
Hammer, S. (2022). Opinion: Guns on campus cannot be the new normal? The Daily Wildcat. Web.
Hassett, M. R., Kim, B., & Seo, C. (2020). Attitudes toward concealed carry of firearms on campus: A systematic review of the literature. Journal of School Violence, 19(1), 48-61.
Martin, F. (2018). Two years after campus carry took effect, has anything changed? Houston Public Media.
Okafor, A. (2017). Opinion on campus: Why I bring my gun to school. The New York Times.
Sakariassen, A. (2022). Montana Supreme Court says legislature can’t mandate campus carry. Montana Free Press.
Somers, P., & Phelps, N. (2018). Not chilly enough? Texas campus carry and academic freedom. Journal of Academic Freedom, 9, 1-15.