Atlanta, GA – Outside the student center, the Georgia Tech College Republicans had a table with fliers. They want to be able to carry concealed guns on campus. Third year biology student Andrew Mullins is one of the advocates.
“I think it’s really important that we have a way to defend ourselves against the bad guys who do have guns. They don’t need laws to bring guns on campus, yet we do. They’ll have guns, whether or not, there’s laws against them. And yet we’re defenseless.”
But other students felt like the best defense is caution, like walking in groups and not walking late at night with expensive items. Third year electrical engineering student Lijun Zhu says his friend was recently robbed at the edge of campus. Packing a gun, wouldn’t make Zhu feel safer.
“I don’t weapon on campus ever make me feel better, cause it won’t get rid of the bad guys on campus plus it will involve the possibility if you misfire or anything.”
Advocates for safety on campus say security precautions should include, taking shuttles, getting escorted, or reporting crime. Alison Kiss with the national group Security on Campus, Incorporated thinks packing a gun is a rash response.
“In any type of environment, it’s not going to end very well if one armed person is walking to protect themselves against another armed person.”
Georgia Tech officials had no comment on the push for guns on campus. Georgia law currently prohibits students from carrying concealed handguns on college campuses. Officials from the University System of Georgia think the current law serves the safety needs of their students, faculty and staff.
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