Daily Iowan

Issue date: 2/22/08 Section: Opinions

In the wake of the Virginia Tech shootings in April 2007, universities nationwide began re-evaluating safety procedures at their campuses. In October 2007, the state Board of Regents approved arming campus police officers at each of the state's public universities. Though the measure was controversial, its goal to increase campus safety, including here at the UI, was the correct one. On Feb. 14, however, a gunman opened fire at Northern Illinois University, killing five students and wounding at least a dozen more before turning the gun on himself. The tragedy has left some demanding that college students be allowed to carry concealed weapons on campus. This Editorial Board could not be more vocal in its opposition to such a proposal.

The UI is no stranger to on-campus violence. On Nov. 1, 1991, a gunman murdered five people on the UI campus and seriously wounded a sixth before taking his own life. Regardless of the amount of protection universities offer on their campuses, security will unfortunately never be absolute. Still, we must rely on a speedy response by university and local authorities when disaster strikes. Their extensive training and expertise is favored over that of terrified - though armed - students inside a classroom. A Wild West-style shootout could endanger more lives than it hopes to save; we cannot afford to even consider this suggestion.

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus describes itself as a national, nonprofit group that supports concealed-handgun permits on university campuses. Formed after the Virginia Tech massacre, the group has no campus leader at the UI. Scott Lewis, the group's media coordinator, says the organization's goal is to take the "advantage away from dangerous individuals with no regard for the law." Arming campus police officers is a positive step forward, Lewis says, but still not enough. We, however, feel that it's the most logical response thus far.

The UI has not taken past instances of campus violence lightly. The Hawk Alert system, introduced last year, can contact students within minutes of a threat on campus. This, combined with the reassurance that university - as well as Iowa City - police are prepared for a rapid response, is far more comforting than potentially armed students. The fear of a faceless, lurking gunman is intensified when tragedies such as the Northern Illinois shooting occur. The response, however, must be a rational one. Armed students will not diminish those fears; in fact, that anxiety may be amplified. Putting more deadly weapons in peoples' hands will never be a sensible response to violence.

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