Editorial: Guns on campus will be blunder

The debate raging on college campuses across the state of Texas concerning the proposed concealed handgun bills will not end anytime soon, regardless of whether or not the legislation passes (and odds are it will). Obviously, the issue is one that plays on people's political, religious, and socio-economic backgrounds, as well as their individual experiences. The students, faculty and administration at Texas A&M University-Commerce cannot control the State Legislature (although we can certainly influence them through various avenues, including voting in state elections), but we would like to control what happens on our own campus.

With the Faculty Senate and Student Government Association passing resolutions vehemently denouncing such legislation, it appears that A&M-Commerce does not want this bill to pass. Unfortunately, we may not have a choice. If legislation is passed that forces universities to allow concealed handguns in school buildings, it won't really matter if we want to allow concealed handguns on campus or not. That would truly be a shame. Passing such sweeping legislation would be a huge mistake.

Why not allow the individual universities to determine for themselves whether or not to accept concealed handguns on campus? Put the issue up for a student referendum, hold informational meetings and debates and let the students decide. After all, this affects us the most. There is usually only one faculty member in a classroom and dozens of students. We are the majority of individuals in the cafeteria, in the rec center and in the dorms. Maybe we should be the ones that decide if we want guns in our buildings.

And, if this legislation is forced on the student body, and when it fails to decrease but rather increases violence, TheEast Texan willjoin SGA and Faculty Senate in saying "We told you so."