This article is really an amazing thing:
TO the chief counsel of the Idaho State Legislature:
In light of the bill permitting guns on our state’s college and university campuses, which is likely to be approved by the state House of Representatives in the coming days, I have a matter of practical concern that I hope you can help with: When may I shoot a student?
I am a biology professor, not a lawyer, and I had never considered bringing a gun to work until now. But since many of my students are likely to be armed, I thought it would be a good idea to even the playing field.
I have had encounters with disgruntled students over the years, some of whom seemed quite upset, but I always assumed that when they reached into their backpacks they were going for a pencil. Since I carry a pen to lecture, I did not feel outgunned; and because there are no working sharpeners in the lecture hall, the most they could get off is a single point. But now that we’ll all be packing heat, I would like legal instruction in the rules of classroom engagement.
At present, the harshest penalty available here at Boise State is expulsion, used only for the most heinous crimes, like cheating on Scantron exams. But now that lethal force is an option, I need to know which infractions may be treated as de facto capital crimes.
As a Biology professor, I would assume he might be familiar with the concepts of research. I did a little quick research and noted that concealed carry has been allowed in Idaho since forever, and shall-issue since 1990. I didn’t research if his college was any different than any other school I’ve ever attended or visited where the dean of the school and visiting faculty are the only members of the faculty who actually LIVE on campus. This sorry excuse for a professor goes to the grocery store, goes to the park, drives on public roads, goes to the mall. All places where these days he likely is surrounded by armed people…some of them may even be his students.
But OH NO! If we allow guns on campus this is the great crack in the dam where all society breaks down! THERE WILL BE BLOOD IN THE STREETS!!11!. Where have we heard this before.
Also its obvious he didn’t research other universities where carry has been allowed. Lots of private universities have never taken issue with lawfully armed students and faculty, and the state of Utah has allowed campus carry for quite some time now.
Also what’s obvious is he knows NOTHING about the lawful use of firearms:
I assume that if a student shoots first, I am allowed to empty my clip; but given the velocity of firearms, and my aging reflexes, I’d like to be proactive. For example, if I am working out a long equation on the board and several students try to correct me using their laser sights, am I allowed to fire a warning shot?
If two armed students are arguing over who should be served next at the coffee bar and I sense escalating hostility, should I aim for the legs and remind them of the campus Shared-Values Statement (which reads, in part, “Boise State strives to provide a culture of civility and success where all feel safe and free from discrimination, harassment, threats or intimidation”)?
Maybe the professor should take a basic pistol course rather than lecturing from a position of ignorance.
In terms of the campus murder rate — zero at present — I think that we can all agree that guns don’t kill people, people with guns do. Which is why encouraging guns on campus makes so much sense. Bad guys go where there are no guns, so by adding guns to campus more bad guys will spend their year abroad in London. Britain has incredibly restrictive laws — their cops don’t even have guns! — and gun deaths there are a tiny fraction of what they are in America. It’s a perfect place for bad guys.
Well except that England doesn’t count violent crime the same way we do, and you seem fixated on “Gun Death” rather than murder rates which are entirely different things. Further have you noticed the policy of campuses where massacres happen? And all of this really adds a LOAD of stink to your final statement:
I want to applaud the Legislature’s courage. On a final note: I hope its members will consider my amendment for bulletproof office windows and faculty body armor in Boise State blue and orange.
So essentially you’re a smug asshole preaching from a position of ignorance and wanton fear-mongering. This is the anti-gun way!
