There is a
letter to the editor in our local paper today from a young woman who is protesting the University's refusal to recognize a Students for Concealed Carry group on campus. Her letter is excellent, and her points are valid. As usual, the mass hysteria from the liberals is reflected in the comments section online.
I followed the comments for a while, then posted my own comment. At present, my challenge has remained unheeded.
The newspaper does not keep their links alive for a long period of time, so I've copied her letter below and my thus-far two comments.
The lead statement in Robbie Evans' news story Tuesday, "Faculty and student organizations at the University of Louisiana at Monroe do not want concealed weapons on campus," mistakenly gives readers the impression that everybody on campus is against House Bill 27.
However, the comments section of the online version of the story paints a very different picture. Unfortunately, students on campus are not being allowed to hear alternate opinions on this issue from existing ULM students who disagree with these resolutions.
Why not? Because the university administration will not allow a student group to form that is in support of HB 27.
My name is Cassey Bennett and I am the president of the ULM Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, or SCCC.
Excuse me, I said "ULM" mistakenly. Our application to become a recognized student organization, having been approved by the assistant dean of student life and leadership, has yet to be approved by the vice president for Student Life and Leadership, despite meeting all of the requirements set out in the ULM Student Policy Manual (www.ulm.edu/studentpolicy).
That the administration disagrees with our group's mission seems to be the only reason for the denial of recognized status and there is no appeal from this decision. This is a violation of my and other students' First Amendment rights, regardless of what anybody believes about the Second Amendment.
As a result, our group is not allowed to post any fliers on campus, hold any meetings on campus or spread our group's message or even recruit new members from ULM.
What is our mission? We want to call people's attention to HB 27 and engage in scholarly debate with other members of the university community, educate our fellow students about their rights, and make our elected officials in Baton Rouge aware of our interests. Why the ULM administration would deny us this opportunity, while allowing all other 142 recognized student groups who meet the policy requirements to do whatever their missions are, is beyond me.
LSU and McNeese State University allowed a group to form on their campuses, along with lots of other colleges, many of which also do not allow concealed weapons on campus.
At least these schools recognize the First Amendment rights of their students.
Why won't ULM?
Clearly, they have their opinions and we have ours. It is currently illegal to carry a weapon on this campus, concealed or in plain view. We know this and nobody in our group has any plans to violate this law.
But to not even be allowed to become a recognized student organization and attempt to change the law solely because the administration disagrees with us? Are they implying that they agree with the mission of every other student organization?
Surely on a college campus, people who disagree should feel free to express their opinions through reasoned debate. In fact, we would love the opportunity to debate the administration, faculty, and other students about H.B. 27 and our reasons why we believe it would be a good law. After all, it is impossible to get a good education when students are only being presented one half of the story.
Cassey Bennett, a senior toxicology major, leads the Students for Concealed Carry on Campus at ULM.
Ms Green's first comment, at around 8:00 am this morning:
I invite someone to give instances where unlicensed criminals have used a weapon to harm or kill innocents on school campuses, in churches, and in the general public. You won't be able to list them all here in the 2000 characters maximum posting.
I now invite someone to give instances where law-abiding citizens with a legal permit to carry a concealed weapon have used that weapon to harm or kill innocents on school campuses, in churches, and in the general public. I'll wait...
Still waiting...
Ms. Green's follow up comment, a little before 1:00 pm today:
Almost 5 hours later...
Still waiting...
I have a feeling it's going to be a long wait.Labels: Freedom, Guns, Liberals