Here is the letter I sent to the my state representative and senator. I may also send it into my local newspaper. I may be starting a firestorm with this, but oh well. If you agree, feel free to send it as well, if you disagree, then feel free to write your own and send it in somewhere (or rebuttal here, that would be fun!).

Dear Representative,

As a college student, I am rather concerned about the recent concealed carry on campus law. Having lived through and experienced the recent UT shooting (I am a Decatur resident going to class in Austin during the week), I feel that the passage of this law would be a mistake. I would also like to establish that other views on gun control must be put aside, as a college campus is a different environment from that of the streets of a city (or suburb, etc.).

Despite the rhetoric and hypothetical situations on both sides of the debate, there are still clear cut arguments that should be considered. I will do my best to present my arguments in an unbiased manner. First off, college campuses are already some of the most affluent places in the nation. Affluence is correlated with more property, therefore more need to protect property rights (hence most colleges having their own police force). These police forces do not need the extra hassle of going through the process of checking whether or not a student with a weapon has the license to carry said weapon. It would also increase trouble when going through metal detectors on campuses with them, and then going through the previously mentioned process of checking licenses.

While it may be a solid argument that the criminal’s knowledge of their victim being armed is a good deterrent, most armed assailants that come onto college campuses are fully aware that they will not survive the event. This thereby would defeat the “scare effect” that armed students would have. One could rebuttal that an armed student would end any potential drawn out shooting with an assailant. There are multiple responses to this, as I hope you have heard while discussing the passage of the bill. We are both aware that the mass shootouts “at every intersection” are far from likely, but one must still ask, “How will the good guys tell who is on their side?” If a student shoots at an assailant, what is preventing another student who is at a distance from mistaking the student for the criminal? Shooters do not always carry assault rifles, and the size of the gun will not distinguish “sides.” To say that this would not happen is as speculative and hypothetical as saying it would, so to dismiss this argument would effectively dismiss your own.

Another argument I would like to present is rather simple: bullets do not always stop when they hit plaster walls. Whether or not the hypothetical assailant is taken down, no one can deny that the more bullets flying, the more potential victims there are. Good intent will not stop a bullet shot even by the most well-intentioned person from hitting something (whether the ground, the target, or an innocent person). Even supposing the target was hit, the legal issues surrounding any shooting will be costly and time consuming.

While I feel like hypothetical situations are overused in debates such as these, one’s mind cannot help but wander into the potential accidents when college students, alcohol, and guns are put together. Not only are underage drinking laws not followed, but even supposing they are, the student’s exposure to such alcohol usage is at the highest rate in their lifetime. On top of the stress and hormones that students must face at this time in their lives, this is not the best time to introduce guns in such a volatile place. Studies have shown that most people’s brains do not fully develop until they are 21 to 22, and most students do not reach this age until they are almost out of college in their junior and senior years. I would also like to point out that the shooter that was on the UT campus recently would have almost certainly passed the background check and requirements for concealed carry, as would many other potential shooters. A clean past does not mean a clean future.

I would also like to inquire about the basis of the argument for the passage of said legislation. Is the basis of the argument that if everyone has a gun, no one will be shot? We can only hope hat everyone holding a gun will prevent the usage of one. Imagine how much of a disincentive it is for out-of-state students thinking about applying for Texas schools (and when out-of-state tuition is considerably higher than in-state tuition, Texas’ budget is in no condition to take a blow to potential income). I will feel less safe knowing that someone in my class has a gun, and I do not like the idea of students taking guns to school.

Finally, I would like to pose a personal experience of a close friend of mine. While I will refrain from giving personal details of his, he is currently enrolled in a private college in Texas. A student in a dormitory near his was experiencing rough times, so much so that he decided to barricade himself in his room and hang himself. Before doing this tragic act, he sent a text to friends saying good-bye which allowed them to alert the police. Luckily, people got to him in time to circumvent the barricade and remove the object with which he hung himself in time to prevent his death. Being on a college campus, he was not allowed to have a gun, which is often the prime choice for those contemplating suicide. Had he had access to a weapon (including those used for concealed carry), I fear that the outcome would not have been the same.

I know that we both have the best interests of the state and its people in mind, however much we may differ in opinion. Nonetheless, I ask that you put aside such differences and consider the arguments above and consider the safety and honor of Texas and its people. I thank you for your time and service.