Brigham Young University: A Gun-Free Zone
Written by: D. Gunnar Renshaw
I grew up in a gun-free zone myself, which is just the
rule of the house my parents had in place. Becoming an adult, I saw the value
of having guns and made the personal decision to own a gun, to be properly
trained in carrying and shooting guns, and made the choice to conceal carry a
gun (having the gun concealed on your person usually underneath clothing or in
a bag, a permit is required to do so). Similarly to my parent’s home, Brigham
Young University is a no gun zone. Brigham Young University is a privately own
institution and reserves the right to make rules/laws concerning the matter of
guns on campus. BYU's Firearms and Weapons policy states, "No one person
(personnel, students, or visitors) except law enforcement shall be permitted to
possess or carry firearms or other weapons, concealed or not concealed, with a
permit or without a permit, while upon properties owned by the
University." Previously, I agreed with BYU's decision to not allow guns on
campus, it was not until recent university tragedies in which my position has
changed to believing BYU should allow students and personnel to conceal carry
guns if they have the proper permit to do so.
On April 2, 2012 at Oikos University, a private Christian
university similar to BYU, a former
student brought a gun to school for the intention of severely hurting and
killing other students. Seven students were shot and killed and three other
peoples were injured in this tragic event. The tragic event has scarred
students of Oikos from witnessing friends and fellow student’s lives being
tragically taken away.
Another recent incident happened at Virginia Tech on
April 16, 2007. The Virginia Tech massacre consisted of one student with a gun
killing 32 people and severely wounding 17 others. Previously to the Virginia
Tech massacre guns were not allowed on campus as an open carry (meaning the gun
is visible), or even a concealed carry for those that had permits to do so. In
response to this event, student activists across the nation formed a group
known as "Students for Concealed Carry on Campus". This group is
working with politicians nationwide to allow gun permit holders to conceal
carry on university campuses for the purpose of providing oneself personal
safety as well as preventing tragedies, similar to those that occurred at Oikos
and Viginia Tech. More responsible persons with guns will benefit any
community.
First, It is true that most universities (BYU included)
have police officers stationed on campus. Unfortunately, there are too few
officers to be in all places at once to confront a potential shooter before he
fires and takes a life. The key here is to allow citizens to conceal carry,
those who have taken a course and have been trained on the safety and
parameters of carrying a concealed firearm. With more responsible persons on
BYU's campus with firearms there will be a higher chance that a shooter would
be confronted sooner, hopefully before he pulls the trigger. It is interesting
to note that large cities that have put in place laws to allow citizens to
conceal carry guns have had the effect of lowering crime by 12%. Just as cities
that allow its citizens to conceal carry guns has the effect of lowering crime
rate, likewise if BYU allows its personnel and students to conceal carry it
will lower the chances of a tragedy taking place here on campus.
Second, Law-abiding citizens (personnel, students and
visitors) who conceal carry will disarm themselves before entering a gun-free
zone like BYU, unfortunately non-law abiding citizens will not. Therefore, those
non-law abiding citizens wishing to commit mass murder are more likely to
target gun-free zone like universities (BYU) and churches because they know the
population inside is unarmed. Like Oikos University and Virginia Tech, Brigham
Young University is currently a sitting duck, which would allow a person with
mal intent to commit a horrific act of violence at BYU being met with little to
none resistance. Guns are not the problem, people are.
Lastly, people have agency, therefore people can choose
to be good or evil, and guns on the other hand are only a tool. In BYU's
Firearm and Weapons policy they state the reason for not allowing guns is
because they "are capable of inflicting serious injury....and pose a clear
risk to persons and property on the BYU campus." Guns do not "pose a
clear risk" but people do, guns are only a tool for good or for evil. Evil
people will use this tool against us, it is our responsibility to use our
resources and use guns as a tool for good. Guns are a tool that can protect,
save and allow people to continue to have their liberties. We, the BYU
community, all personnel, students, alumni, etc..., must take the
responsibility of making sure our university is a safe place and a place that
protects our liberties.
As faculty and students we can raise awareness of this
issue on campus. We can write letter to the student government, the Board of
Education, and the Board of Trustees expressing our concerns about the safety
of BYU's campus. Brigham Young University is not immune to such a tragic event
because it is a religious university or because it is located in "Happy
Valley." Oikos University was also a Christian university which taught the
highest of standards and values and it became victim to such a tragedy. It is
our responsibility to take preventative measures now, instead of regretting
consequences of a tragedy later when it is too late. As other universities have
done, it would be in BYU's best interest to change their policy on gun control
and allow those who have been properly certified to conceal firearms on campus.
Concealed firearm permit holders are more than people who protect themselves
and their family, they protect the community. This change in policy alone would
make Brigham Young University a safer place, as well as more constitutionally
sound.
The second amendment of the constitution of the United
States, which we as a BYU and LDS community believe is inspired, boldly claims
that the people have the right to "keep and bear arms" and that
"shall not be infringed". In light of the Constitution of the Unites
States of America, which protects our freedoms, we the people of the Brigham
Young University deserve the right to have a safe university, to able to protect
our lives, to protect the lives of those on campus, and the right to conceal carry
(bear arms).
