Compromise brings safety
We all just received a notification from the University Police that on April 3 a female student successfully defended herself from assault using pepper spray.
The argument for concealed-carry rests on the fact that the student populace should be able to defend themselves, while the argument against it states that it is too dangerous to have a population of students with lethal weapons.
Both sides can be pacified if the University encourages and provides training for students to defend themselves in a non-lethal way. The potential effectiveness of this was demonstrated in the bravery of the female student who was assaulted last night.
Fred Eaker systems administrator, student media
Funny cartoon
Let me begin by just stating how hilarious the cartoon in Monday's paper was relating to concealed carry on campus. No, I am not talking about how funny the substance was I am talking about how funny it is that the Technician staff is so ignorant. I believe everyone has the right to an opinion, but when your opinion is proven wrong by statistics and actual cases, I think it is time to look at both sides. Letters to the editor have already proven every single "opinion" that was in Friday's "Viewpoint" is wrong. Choosing an opinion is a matter of looking at facts and basing a judgment on those facts. Traditionally one will base any opinion on what seems to be the case. You don't agree with the death penalty because you have a moral problem with it, okay. You believe abortion is murder because you have a moral problem with it, okay. You believe in any cause because your morals tell you it's the right belief. I believe that is what separates America from other countries. The problem lies when you can't accept facts and truth. There is no moral base for being against concealed carry on campuses. On the other hand there is no moral base for being for concealed carry on campus (assuming the Constitution is not in your moral rolodex), just facts, and the Technician staff cannot accept facts.
Now, what else is wrong with your cartoon? Statistics show that one out of a hundred people have a CCW permit. There are seven people (counting the arm behind the bookshelf) in the cartoon and they all are armed, unless you are at a shooting range that is completely unfeasible. Also, what makes it so special that they are at a college campus? A situation involving weapons could happen anywhere where people are allowed to carry concealed weapons, which is basically everywhere. I don't understand the magic line down Hillsborough where you can't cross with a weapon. Third, let me restate the point that many have already made, before you presented this ridiculous cartoon. Thirty states allow CCW permits on college campuses. How many gun-related crimes happened at those colleges? ZERO.
So Technician get off your high horse of being able to print your fact-less opinions in a paper read by most of the student body. Print facts. Give us statistics and cases to back up your rambling. Whether it is a stupid drawing or an opinion column, we expect you to treat us like adults and talk to us like free-thinking Americans, not fascist puppets.
Ches McDowell freshman, political science
