A few months ago, the Oregon Court of Appeals gave permission to students and faculty to carry concealed weapons on campus as long as they have a permit. In October, the University got permission to turn their public safety into fully sworn police officers. With so many whispers about gun safety and possession, it’s time to give a louder voice to these dangerous weapons which should be banned from campus.
A deadly high school shooting recently took place in Chardon, Ohio, leaving two students in the hospital and three dead. The gunman was 17-year-old TJ Lane. He attended the alternative school for Chardon High School. There are a whole host of factors that go into why tragedies like this one occur. Child sociopaths are rare, but they do exist, and often times these damaged kids are victims of bullying and lack of parental control.
One in every four kids has been bullied at school. Many of the students at Chardon High School said TJ was a troubled kid, often bullied for appearing gothic. There is no excuse to take someone’s life the way TJ did. But there is also no reason for students to be bullying each other.
Being in college, students may not deal with bullying as much as high school students do, but it still happens around the world. Put an end to bullying and it could potentially put an end to school violence. People everywhere need to learn to channel their energy in a healthier way. Anger and fighting are not going to fix anything.
Obviously, bullying can lead to a lot of trouble. But so can lack of love and involvement from a parent or guardian. Tragedies like this could be avoided once parents become more involved in their child’s life. Growing up with guardians who protect and care for them is crucial in development.
I’m not a psychology major but I know that love goes a long way. Being a parent that is 100 percent devoted to their child is important. Really, you don’t even need to be a parent to be involved and benefit in a kids life. Teach your brother and sisters and neighbors how to be respectable people. But without love and affection and guidance, there are so many ways a kid could go wrong. If that kid has access to a gun, things could turn deadly.
Guns are an effective device for protection. They have saved many lives as long as they’re in the right hands. Citizens who have a permit to hold concealed weapons are responsible and fully aware of the power they have. Psychologically damaged kids like TJ are an example of gun possession in the wrong hands. Society needs to learn how to raise their children in a positive atmosphere, where students learn to control their anger and people begin to develop an understanding that guns are highly dangerous
Obviously, positive parental involvement is crucial, along with the battle to end bullying. But another way to avoid situations like this would be to ban guns from every school campus, including colleges. Back in 1984, at Autzen Stadium, a 19-year-old student shot and killed an Olympic sprinter and wounded a college wrestler.
This event is a heartbreaking reminder that guns are dangerous and when they are in the wrong hands, they are deadly. Since the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre, there have been more than 50 school-shooting related deaths. How many more tragedies will occur until there becomes a nationwide ban of guns on campus? Whether it is intentional or accidental, guns cause catastrophes. We should all be concerned with safety of our campus.