Carry books, not guns, on campus: Measure to allow firearms at schools puts public safety at risk rather than enhances it

Some argue that the proliferation of firearms in public venues curbs gun violence. We think it only triggers it.
This week, the House Judiciary Committee hosted a hearing on HB 2519, the so-called “Campus Self Defense Act,” or “Campus Carry Bill.”
The bill would allow, with exceptions, people with concealed carry permits to bring firearms on college campuses. It includes exceptions for events in campus sports arenas with more than 1,500 seats, campus daycare centers, campus police headquarters and private events.
The bill, at least for now, does not address firearms in residence halls.
We cannot help but question why this bill requires those carrying firearms on campus to have a concealed-carry permit while you don’t need one elsewhere.
Could it be that we’re unsure of introducing firearms into a mass of young people who sometimes are disposed to riskier behavior?
And why make exceptions for sports arenas that seat more than 1,500 people. Never mind that is probably every campus sports arena in the state.
But if we follow the logic of most advocates of this bill correctly, wouldn’t this provision make those crowds of fans more vulnerable?
And heaven knows why do you not want to afford the most vulnerable of all — infants and toddlers — in campus daycare centers the added protection of gun-toting childcare workers and parents.
We are also curious why the Legislature continues to not allow for firearms inside or even on the state Capitol complex’s grounds, aside from being locked in your car.
From where we stand, there are any number of reasons HB 2519 should never appear on this committee’s agenda again. It’s also worth noting here that the opposition to this bill numbered almost 3-1 of the 41 speakers, which probably reflects the opposition overall.
But knowing the mentality of our Legislature — which continues to give a virtual blank check to the proliferation of firearms — we expect the worst.
We are reminded here of one of life’s lessons that Atticus Finch imparted to his 6-year-old daughter, Scout, in “To Kill a Mockingbird.”
“I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.”
That’s our newspaper’s approach today and hereon toward HB 2519, which endangers public safety rather than promotes it.
Colleges and universities embody the concept of open campuses, not armed camps.
A place where reason and the freedom of ideas is safe from fear and the shadow of violence.