Letter to the Editor:

Conceal carry not so dangerous

Concealed-carry would decrease violence.

By Nick Haynes, former MU College Republicans chairman

Published April 27, 2009

Let me introduce myself. I am irresponsible. I am a "deputy of the law." I am reckless. I am a talking point machine. I do not understand the issues facing students today. And, chiefly amongst those, I am an ignorant man and a danger to you and the other members of the student body. You see, I am a student who supports a law allowing individuals such as myself to conceal and carry weapons on campus.

In case you were unaware, The Maneater editorial board found it fit to label those who wish to carry personal protection a danger to those around them. Should the privilege to conceal and carry on campus be given, I would apparently make our campus "a potential battleground," despite my age (28), my military background and my pristine criminal record (none). This is news to me.

But let's go over the facts, which were glaringly void in the original editorial. They label those who conceal and carry a danger to those around them. Yet University of Maryland researcher John Lott has shown a distinct correlation between the introduction of concealed-carry statutes and a decrease in violent crime in the affected communities, and has pointed out that those public locations that suffered mass shootings were all areas in which concealed-carry weapons were banned. Retired criminologist Don Kates has summarized this by saying that it's easier to disarm the law-abiding citizens than the criminals. And the state of Florida has released statistics showing that, out of the 1.4 million permits issued, only 166 were revoked after the licensee committed a crime with a firearm, and less than 4,500 were revoked for any reason whatsoever.

But let's go back to the original thrust of the argument: that those who conceal and carry make our campus a more dangerous place. What path of logic leads one to believe that possession of a gun will automatically make one a criminal? If you are a criminal, what would lead you to legally buy a gun at higher cost, and then put yourself on the grid further by obtaining permission to carry it into the places you plan on committing crimes?

Arguing that perhaps there should be stricter testing and training in place for conceal carry weapon permit holders is one thing. Arguing that their mere presence on campus makes Mizzou a more dangerous place? Logically and statistically, that argument is invalid and devoid of common sense or facts.

As a student of the university, I am proud of the concealed-carry provisions passed by the Missouri House of Representatives and am glad that they, if not some of my peers at MU, trust me to know right from wrong, know danger from anger and make the right decisions should a potential tragedy show its ugly face.