The editorial printed in Monday's Alligator about concealed carry on campus was irrational and unduly alarmist.
Statements of fears such as "coeds pulling guns on their significant other over a minor disagreement" are patently absurd. People who would be carrying guns on campus, if the Texas bill is passed, are the people who already are licensed to carry guns in other public places, such as malls or restaurants.
As of Feb. 28 in Alachua County, there were 5,613 people who had a permit to carry concealed, a general gun license or both.
Why have we not seen a rash of shootings from people with concealed carry licenses in malls over trivial arguments? By the logic of the Alligator Editorial staff, this should have already been documented, because any student who has a carry permit could conceivably have his firearm in the mall, and I've seen plenty of arguments take place in the Oaks Mall.
The answer is the people with concealed carry permits are not the ones who shoot people willy-nilly.
Being law-abiding citizens who registered their firearms in the first place and are fully aware of the responsibility that entails, they aren't going to go off half-cocked over a stupid provocation.
It is the people who buy Saturday-night specials and don't register them, or illegal fully automatic weapons, who commit the majority of gun crimes.
What is the key factor that relates these people?
They are not licensed for concealed carry. Also, the statement that the Texas legislators who are sponsoring this bill are touting it as a "cure-all to ending school shootings" is misleading. Supporters of the bills say that they will reduce the likelihood, not be a cure-all; the legislators themselves have made no statements to that effect.
These bills would just be the continuation of rights that are already in existence in the vast majority of public places.
In conclusion, Alligator Editorial staff, there is no need to use inflammatory and childish statements based on faulty premise. Next time, look up the facts to support your conclusions.
