Fort Collins Creates New Gun Free Zone

The CSU President has repealed the policy that allows students with valid concealed handgun licenses to carry their firearms on campus. At issue appears to be the fear by CSU faculty and “security experts” that there would be another Virginia Tech type massacre on campus. But what is really at stake is yet another example where unfounded fear of guns has yet again disarmed law abiding citizens and created a target rich environment for predators and others who wish only to do people harm, and will have yet another place to do it where they know they will not be stopped.

Prior to this decision, the students responded with an eight-page resolution asking school president Tony Frank to continue to allow people with concealed-weapon permits to go armed on campus. To quote an article by the Denver Post:

"Twenty-one members of the Associated Students of CSU Senate voted in favor of the eight-page resolution (in favor of allowing concealed carry); three voted against, and five members were absent or abstained.

CSU is one of a few U.S. colleges that allow weapons carried by those with permits. Campus police, other safety experts and Frank's cabinet said in October that the campus should be gun-free except for security officers.

The mass shooting at Virginia Tech University in 2007 prompted CSU's faculty senate to ask for a review of the gun policy last year."

Source: http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_13914952

Let’s look first of all, at some examples where gun free zones have had an effect on an outcome:

1. Virginia Tech: The school is a gun free zone. That didn’t seem to stop the shooter from coming on campus and shooting students. Guess he didn’t read the sign? Was it that he didn’t know about it? No! He knew but didn’t care. How effective was that gun free zone policy? The effect was that people died. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virginia_Tech_massacre

2. Shopping Mall in Omaha: Posted as a gun free zone. That didn’t seem to stop the shootings that took place. Did the bad guys not read the sign? Did they not know the mall was a gun free zone? No! Again it was a simple matter of those intent on doing harm to others not caring about the law. The effect was that people died. http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,315342,00.html

3. Luby’s Café in Texas (aka The Luby’s Massacre): Laws prohibited armed citizens from having their guns in the restaurant. A crazed man drives his truck through the front of the café, gets out and commences shooting, killing several people. Did this man not realize that there was a law preventing him from having a gun there? NO! He didn’t care. He was intent on killing, and all the laws in the world would not stop him. The effect was that people died. http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m3197/is_n6_v37/ai_12634747/

4. Fort Hood Texas: A crazed psychiatrist and army major shoots and kills thirteen people. This happened on an Army base full of trained people who are used to being in harms way and being shot at. But they were unarmed because the base policy prevents them from carrying firearms with them. Did the Major not know this policy? Did Major Hasan forget? No! He knew the policy and was intent on performing his act of terrorism, killing thirteen people. The effect was that people died. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Hood_shooting

Now – let’s look at where armed citizens did make a difference:

1. New Life Church in Colorado Springs, CO: A gunman comes onto the church grounds with approximately 1,000 rounds of ammunition, an AR-15 rifle, and two pistols. He commenced shooting and killed two people. But an armed citizen drew her weapon, walked into the line of fire and took him down before he could put his thousand rounds of ammunition to work to kill any more. Still alive but badly wounded, he realized he was done and ended his own life. The result: People lived. http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/14808321/detail.html

2. Convenience Store Holdup: A 70-year-old man shoots and wounds two would-be robbers who were attempting to rod his store. The store owners daughter, working in a nearby store, came running to the scene, also armed. The reaction took place before police could even arrive. People lived. http://www.floridatoday.com/article/20091118/NEWS01/911180352/Melbourne-store-owner-shoots--wounds-robber

3. East St. Louis Burglar Shot to Death by Storekeeper: Two men tried to rob a store at gunpoint. The store clerk shot and killed one of the suspects. The result: The storekeeper lived. http://www.ksdk.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=190187

4. The Civilian Gun Defense blog is full of stories that happen every day where armed citizens are able to protect life and property through the responsible use of firearms. They are able to do so long before police can arrive to assist. http://www.thearmedcitizen.com/gundefenseblog/blogger.html

What is it that the people who want to disarm these students don't get about the fact that the Virginia Tech shootings didn't happen because students were able to lawfully carry their firearms? The shopping mall shooting didn’t happen because law abiding mall patrons were armed. The shootings happened because these were yet more cases of a gun free zone where the shooter(s) KNEW that victims would be unarmed.

Furthermore - I would like to know when has an incident happened at CSU where a student legally carrying his or her firearms created an incident, perpetrated a shooting, or even had a firearms related accident. I don't seem to recall any – could someone please enlighten the rest of us as to when this has ever happened? Looks like these folks at CSU are reacting to something that happened at a gun-free-zone school awhile ago, and the knee-jerk reaction is just now catching up with you.

When are these people going to finally realize that they can make all the laws they want, make all the anti-gun policies they want, and all they will be doing is appeasing their own ignorance and sense of “showing” the public that they are doing something. Albeit that the “something” that they are doing is empty and meaningless. A crazed gunman or other armed criminal is going to walk right through your laws and policies, and do what they darn well please. Your actions only hurt the law abiding! As the saying goes: "When seconds count, the police are only MINUTES away." By taking away these students' right to carry, you are taking away their RIGHT to self defense. Making a gun-free-zone will not stop ANYONE intent on doing harm to others.

There was enormous support from students who say they wanted to keep the right to carry their firearms. These students have been vetted and scrutinized, as evidenced by the fact that they have their permits. They submitted to the required finger-printing, training, and background checks to get those permits. I personally know two students at CSU who carry concealed firearms. They practice and train constantly, and their proficiency puts that of most police officers to shame.

To the campus police who say that they want students unarmed - I ask you - are you planning on being with every single one of them every single second to protect them now? I didn't think so! A legally armed student is one of your greatest allies if a crazed shooter comes onto your campus. They will respond way before you can even think of getting away from the donut shop or your heated office to respond to those kids in need who are being attacked. But now you have lost that valuable asset. I hope you plan on beefing up your efforts to protect these students.

To the CSU President and faculty: The entire notion of “…streets running red with blood…” because of citizens being able to carry lawfully was debunked long ago. Read your history. You just made the stupid mistake of disarming these kids. History has proven time after time that when you disarm citizens you create a target rich environment for the criminals. If you do, and a shooting or other violent crime occurs, for any killed or injured students, their blood will be on YOUR hands.