Introduction
In America, many people are concealed handgun license holders. This means that they carry their handguns to many places. In Texas, individuals are allowed to carry their guns to places such as parking lots, city streets, grassy areas, and other public areas (Smith par2). However, students and teachers are not allowed to carry their weapons into classrooms. Senate bill 182 is a proposed legislation that seeks to allow licensed handgun holders to carry their weapons to colleges in Texas. Students and school administrators have conducted several demonstrations to oppose the bill. Opponents claim that passing the bill will lead to more incidences of violence and campus shootings. However, this assumption is distorted and does not represent the real situation. Statistics reveal that cases of violence and crime among licensed handgun holders are very few (Smith par3). Therefore, they should be allowed to carry their weapons in Texas’ colleges because they promote their personal and public security.
Discussion
It is necessary for concealed handgun license holders to carry their handguns to college campuses. This is because they offer licensed individuals personal protection and can aid in deterring mass murders (Stille par4). Security provided on colleges has been shown to be ineffective in stopping incidences of mass murders. This makes it necessary for licensed holders to carry their weapons to college. First, carrying it to college campuses augments the security of the individual (Stille par4). For example, in colleges, women are frequent victims of sexual harassment and violence. Many cases of male students harassing female students on college premises have been reported in the past. Passing the proposed bill will allow women to gain valuable means of self-defense in case an individual harasses or stalks them (Stille par5).
Opponents of the bill argue that allowing guns in Texas colleges might lead to increased rates of violence. Handgun licenses are awarded to mature individuals who present proof that they can handle them in the right manner. Murderers target locations that they are likely encounter minimal resistance from victims. Colleges are one of them because students are less likely to resist when they see guns. As a fact, the bill might help to reduce cases of violence in Texas colleges because criminals will not know who has a concealed weapon. That will deter them from committing crime (Stille par7). Passing the bill will not have a negative effect on the security of students who do not own guns because licensed individuals conceal their handguns. Therefore, no one will know that they have them.
Secondly, licensed individuals possess the ability to stop mass murders using their handguns (Kirkham par2). For example, in January 2013, a gunman in Lone Star College in Texas wounded three people. If licensed holders had been allowed to carry their handguns on campus, they could have stopped the gunman. However, they did not have means to stop the shooting. America has experienced several cases of mass murders in its college campuses. Gunmen target education institutions because students cannot fight back since they are not allowed to carry their handguns on college premises (Kirkham par3). Passing the bill will give vulnerable students a chance to shoot back in defense in case such an incident occurs.
Thirdly, most concealed handgun license holders claim that they know how to handle handguns effectively. Therefore, chances of posing security risks to other people in college are minimal. They have experience on how to handle guns in a way that does not infringe on the security of those around them. The main reason why students and college administrations in Texas are against the bill is that they do not know how handguns are handled (Stille par5). In Texas, some of the qualifications for getting a licenses include a clean criminal history, must be mentally stable, and must not be dependent on any chemical such as drugs (Kirkham par7). In addition, an individual should not be under protective care, and must have undergone the required training. These requirements are supposed to ensure that licensed individuals do not pose any security risks to other people. Therefore, licensed holders will not pose any security risks to other people if the bill is passed.
Conclusion
In Texas, individuals are allowed to carry their handguns to many places that include parking lots, the streets, grassy areas, and other public areas. However, handguns are not allowed in classrooms. This may change if the proposed bill that seeks to allow licensed holders to carry their weapons to college is enacted into law. The bill has attracted heated debate with opponents and proponents presenting their side of the argument. Proponents have conducted several public awareness rallies to educate the public on the importance of the bill. Opponents claim that if he bill passes, it will increase cases of violence in colleges. Handguns foster personal safety and offer an opportunity for a licensed holder to stop a mass murder in case it happens under his or her watch.
Works Cited
Kirkham, Chris. Campus Handgun carry Debate Rekindles with Lone Star College Shooting. 2013.
Smith, Emily. Should Concealed Handguns be allowed in Texas classrooms? 2011.Web.
Stille, Virginia. Concealed Handguns on Campus. 2011. Web.