Wild Wild West

     The 82nd Texas Legislative session started a few weeks ago and like every legislative secession, hundreds of bills are filed for consideration.  One of the bills filed attempts to remove the area of college campuses as places where guns are prohibited.  The right to carry a concealed hand gun onto a college campus is a disaster waiting to happen.  This is just another attempt by the National Rifle Association using the back door to farther their political cause and sell more guns that America does not need.  Why don't they go ahead a place signs at the entrance of every college campus in America that reads Wild Wild West.
     The ability to carry a concealed hand gun on any campus will have the opposite effect it's proponents intend.  Instead of arming the students to deal with dangerous situations, universities should instead educate staff to look for warning signs of an impending crisis.  Letting students bring guns to shoot it out with the bad guys is a stupid ideal.
     I can hear all you Second Amendment supporters now, well just pipe down.  The courts have long ago reaffirmed the right of gun ownership but the courts also granted the right to States to restrict areas where guns are allowed.  How would like it if you were setting at a bar trying to finish your rum and coke when the guy setting next to you pulls out his 357 Mag and begins shooting up the place just because he thought someone was flirting with his wife.  Would you send your precious child to a  college campus of 50,200 students if all were allowed to carry a concealed  hand gun?  If you answer yes to that question you are stupid and still living in the 1950s.
     Bringing guns onto a university campus will make for a less safe environment both mentally and physically for students and staff.  It will increase the chances and severity of suicide and domestic violence, far out weighing the advantage of personal protection.  College campus are places where young people are dealing with emotions and experiences often for the very first time in their lives.   We should be doing all we can to ensure students who are struggling with their lives or relationships, have access to the support of professionals not firearms.