UNL has no plans to re-examine its gun policy
Title
UNL has no plans to re-examine its gun policy
Description
By: Chris Rosacker
Posted: 4/24/07
In light of the Virginia Tech shootings, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's 1992 failed campus shooting and Friday's bomb scare at UNL's Othmer Hall, some people are calling for a re-evaluation of the university's security policies.
Aaron Brown, a graduate student in the College of Law, exchanged several e-mails with UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman on the subject of the ban of firearms on campus. Brown wrote in his e-mails last week that he wants UNL to change its policy on concealed weapons.
Although the state of Nebraska has passed a concealed weapons law, UNL does not permit its students to carry weapons - concealed or on display - on both UNL campuses.
Earlier this semester, signs were posted around campus reminding visitors and students, faculty and staff members of the no-guns policy.
But not everyone agrees with the ban, especially after the tragedy at Virginia Tech.
"Unless you are willing to assure me that you or someone else will be there to protect me, let me take a gun to school," wrote Brown in an e-mail Perlman. Brown forwarded the e-mails to the Daily Nebraskan.
He referenced an instance on Jan. 16, 2002, at the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Va., where a failing student shot and killed three people and wounded three others before being subdued by armed fellow students.
The 42-year-old Nigerian student, Peter Odighizuwa, dropped his .380 ACP semi-automatic handgun when Tracy Bridges and Mikael Gross, both students, approached him in front of the building he was exiting after the shooting; Gross was armed. With the help of two unarmed students who tackled and handcuffed Odighizuwa, the rampage was brought to an end.
Many Second Amendment proponents pushing for the legalization of concealed weapons have used that incident as an example of a situation where concealed handguns could be beneficial.
Brown wrote that allowing students to carry concealed weapons could prevent something like the Virginia Tech shootings from happening at UNL.
"Thank you for your suggestion," Perlman replied to Brown. "However, I respectfully disagree with your proposal. Nor do I think there is any anecdotal or empirical evidence that suggests that widespread possession of firearms reduces the risks of events like Virginia Tech or reduces the overall level of violence in our society.
"We intend to stay with our 'no guns on campus' policy."
Perlman was unavailable for comment over the weekend and on Monday.
Juan Franco, the vice chancellor for student affairs at UNL, said that to his knowledge, the university would not be re-examining its gun policy.
"We feel very strongly that we do not want guns on campus," Franco said. "I don't think we're going to budge on that."
Brown said that it was "insulting" that Perlman disavowed knowledge of studies and anecdotal evidence supporting a reduction in crime when citizens lawfully carry concealed weapons - especially when many states have passed legislation allowing people to carry concealed weapons.
Owen Yardley, the chief of University Police, said allowing students to carry firearms would make his force's job "much more difficult," and he is opposed to such an action.
"My concerns would be in a university environment where there is a (large) amount of alcohol consumption; mixing alcohol and firearms is a bad idea in any instance," Yardley said.
"From my perspective, I would rather have people call us in a situation that is escalating than have them deal with it (themselves) and escalate the situation further."
But Brown said he would "bet the farm" that the UNL administration wouldn't be able to come up with a better alternative to protect students from shootings.
And with no better alternative, the administration will do nothing but hope no incidents occur at UNL.
"It boils down to protect me or let me protect myself," Brown said. "They can't say they won't protect us and that we can't protect ourselves."
But the administration stands firm on its anti-firearms policy.
"We just feel the campus is safer without guns," Franco said.
--
Original Source:<a href=http://media.www.dailynebraskan.com/media/storage/paper857/news/2007/04/24/News/Unl-Has.No.Plans.To.ReExamine.Its.Gun.Policy-2875634.shtml>Daily Nebraskan - April 24, 2007</a>
Posted: 4/24/07
In light of the Virginia Tech shootings, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's 1992 failed campus shooting and Friday's bomb scare at UNL's Othmer Hall, some people are calling for a re-evaluation of the university's security policies.
Aaron Brown, a graduate student in the College of Law, exchanged several e-mails with UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman on the subject of the ban of firearms on campus. Brown wrote in his e-mails last week that he wants UNL to change its policy on concealed weapons.
Although the state of Nebraska has passed a concealed weapons law, UNL does not permit its students to carry weapons - concealed or on display - on both UNL campuses.
Earlier this semester, signs were posted around campus reminding visitors and students, faculty and staff members of the no-guns policy.
But not everyone agrees with the ban, especially after the tragedy at Virginia Tech.
"Unless you are willing to assure me that you or someone else will be there to protect me, let me take a gun to school," wrote Brown in an e-mail Perlman. Brown forwarded the e-mails to the Daily Nebraskan.
He referenced an instance on Jan. 16, 2002, at the Appalachian School of Law in Grundy, Va., where a failing student shot and killed three people and wounded three others before being subdued by armed fellow students.
The 42-year-old Nigerian student, Peter Odighizuwa, dropped his .380 ACP semi-automatic handgun when Tracy Bridges and Mikael Gross, both students, approached him in front of the building he was exiting after the shooting; Gross was armed. With the help of two unarmed students who tackled and handcuffed Odighizuwa, the rampage was brought to an end.
Many Second Amendment proponents pushing for the legalization of concealed weapons have used that incident as an example of a situation where concealed handguns could be beneficial.
Brown wrote that allowing students to carry concealed weapons could prevent something like the Virginia Tech shootings from happening at UNL.
"Thank you for your suggestion," Perlman replied to Brown. "However, I respectfully disagree with your proposal. Nor do I think there is any anecdotal or empirical evidence that suggests that widespread possession of firearms reduces the risks of events like Virginia Tech or reduces the overall level of violence in our society.
"We intend to stay with our 'no guns on campus' policy."
Perlman was unavailable for comment over the weekend and on Monday.
Juan Franco, the vice chancellor for student affairs at UNL, said that to his knowledge, the university would not be re-examining its gun policy.
"We feel very strongly that we do not want guns on campus," Franco said. "I don't think we're going to budge on that."
Brown said that it was "insulting" that Perlman disavowed knowledge of studies and anecdotal evidence supporting a reduction in crime when citizens lawfully carry concealed weapons - especially when many states have passed legislation allowing people to carry concealed weapons.
Owen Yardley, the chief of University Police, said allowing students to carry firearms would make his force's job "much more difficult," and he is opposed to such an action.
"My concerns would be in a university environment where there is a (large) amount of alcohol consumption; mixing alcohol and firearms is a bad idea in any instance," Yardley said.
"From my perspective, I would rather have people call us in a situation that is escalating than have them deal with it (themselves) and escalate the situation further."
But Brown said he would "bet the farm" that the UNL administration wouldn't be able to come up with a better alternative to protect students from shootings.
And with no better alternative, the administration will do nothing but hope no incidents occur at UNL.
"It boils down to protect me or let me protect myself," Brown said. "They can't say they won't protect us and that we can't protect ourselves."
But the administration stands firm on its anti-firearms policy.
"We just feel the campus is safer without guns," Franco said.
--
Original Source:<a href=http://media.www.dailynebraskan.com/media/storage/paper857/news/2007/04/24/News/Unl-Has.No.Plans.To.ReExamine.Its.Gun.Policy-2875634.shtml>Daily Nebraskan - April 24, 2007</a>
Creator
Chris Rosacker
Date
2007-09-03
Contributor
Sara AA Hood
Rights
Josh Swartzlander <jdwriter19@yahoo.com>
Language
eng
Citation
Chris Rosacker, “UNL has no plans to re-examine its gun policy,” The April 16 Archive, accessed November 23, 2024, https://april16archive.org/index.php/items/show/1276.