utk “guns on campus”...
TRANSCRIPT
1
UTK“GunsonCampus”PollOnApril13,2016theUTKfacultysenateopenedanonlinepolloffacultyattitudesaboutgunsoncampusandthelegislationpertainingtoit.ThepollranuntilApril20,2016.(Morethan500responsescameinthefirstday.)ThepollwassenttoallfacultyassociatedwiththeKnoxvillecampus,includingUTK,UTIA,andUTSI.Itincludedthefollowinginformation:
Tennesseelawmakersareconsideringabill(HB1736)thatwouldallowfacultyandstafftocarryconcealedweapons,withapermit,oncampusatpubliccollegesanduniversitiesintheUTandTennesseeBoardofRegentssystems.Bothuniversitysystemshaveopposedthebillandhaveaskedforanamendmentthatwouldalloweachindividualcampustooptout,buttheamendmentfailedwithatievoteincommittee.Otheramendmentshavebeenproposedthatwouldalloweachuniversitytosetpoliciesregardingconcealedweaponsoncampus.
Foradditionalinformation-https://proxy.qualtrics.com/proxy/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwapp.capitol.tn.gov%2Fapps%2FBillInfo%2FDefault.aspx%3FBillNumber%3DHB1736&token=avvf8nD8px5vSuPhW6MqJuBE5YkPFIJsCM7mJHxg6Gc%3D
Participantswereaskedtoexpressagreementordisagreementwiththesestatements:
#1:Allowinggunsoncampusisinthebestinterestofthecampuscommunity.
#2:Eachuniversitycampusshouldhavetheauthoritytosetitsownpoliciesregardinggunsoncampus.
#3:Asafacultymember,Iwouldfeelcomfortablewithfirearmsinmyclassroom.
Atotalof736ofthe1758facultyresponded(42%).Facultywereabletoprovideopenendedcomments,andwehaveincludedalloftheminthisreport.Thisisathematicanalysisofthe283comments:
Topic % CountCampuswillbelesssafe 34.09% 90Gunshavenoplaceoncampus 32.58% 86Leaveorresign 21.97% 58Insanepolicy 14.02% 37Contradictsmissionofuniversity 9.47% 25Infavor 6.44% 17(Somecommentsbelongtomorethanonetheme.)
IfIcanprovideanyadditionalinformation(includingmoreup-to-dateinformationfromthepoll),pleasedon’thesitatetocontactme.
BruceMacLennan,PhDPresident,UTKFacultySenateAssociateProfessor,[email protected]
2
ReportGun LegislationApril 20th 2016, 5:20 pm MDT
Q1 - We are conducting this poll to determine your opinion on this issue.
3
Q3 - Additional Comments:
Q3 - Additional Comments:
AdditionalComments:
Iseenoneedwhat-so-everforstudentsorfacultywithpermitstocarryfirearmstohaveimmediateaccesstofirearmsinaclassroomatTheUniversityofTennessee,Knoxville.Thismakesnosensetome,andIdonotperceivemybeingunabletocarryaloadedfirearmonsafetyintoaclassroomasbeingaviolationofmyrightsasaU.S.citizen.ThisisoneofthemostpreposterousthingsthatI'veeverheardofwithwhichtospendlegislativetime.Iwouldsubmitthatwehavecountlessmoreimportantissuestotacklefacingthefutureofouracademicinstitutions.Lawenforcementistrainedforthis.Wearenot.Iwouldnotteachinaclasswhenastudenthasagun.Itisunacceptabletohaveotherspotentiallyfeelsounsafe.Iwouldnotbeabletoreasonablytellthedifferencebetweenthebeginningofanactiveshootersituationandanopencarrysituation.Iwouldnotbeabletoadequatelyprotectmystudentsbyknowingthedifferenceinthreatlevel.Iwouldnotworkunderthosecircumstances.IwouldleavetheUniversityofTennesseeasanTenuredAssociateProfessorifnecessary.Iwouldnotsendmyownchildrentoauniversitythatallowedstudentstobringgunsoncampus.Allowinghandgunsoncampusdoesnotallowforasaferenvironment.Iwouldfeelsubstantiallylesssafeifhandgunswereallowedoncampus.TheUTKemailmakingmeawareofthispollendedupinthe"clutterfolder"ofMSOutlook.Perhapsit'sworthtryingtoresendthistoemployeesinawaythatavoidsthatsnag;Ionlystumbledonthisbyaccident.Seemstooimportantamattertobelostinclutter.
Gunsoncampuswillmakemefeelunsafe.
Question2isvague.Iassumethatthisquestionisinthecontextofthebillpassingintolaw,inwhichcaseIagree,campusesshouldhavetheabilitytomaintaintheircurrentpolicies.However,youcouldreadthequestionasallowingcampusestoallowguns,evenifthisbillwerenottopass.Inthatcase,Iwouldstronglydisagree.Icannotbelievethereareanyreputablestudiesthatreflectthatthisisagoodbill.Ourcampuspoliceareintenselytrainedtorespondtoincidents,andIwouldratherhavethemrespondingtorandomshootersthanrelyingonstudentsandfacultycarryingtheirownguns.Iamafemalefacultymember.Anoldermalefacultymemberoncethreatenedthathewantedtogetagunandshootme.Hewasserious,andifagunwereinhisbriefcase,Ibelievehewouldhaveactedonhisthreat.Studentsgetmadatotherstudentsortheirteachers.Adisgruntledstudentcouldoverreactwithfirearms.
Studentsoftenfeelvulnerableandstressed,andaddingweaponstothatmixseemslikearecipefordisaster.
Thisisacrazyidea!
Thisisabadidea.Beinginthementalhealthcarefield,Iknowhowmanystudents,staffandfacultyaredealingwithproblemsofanxiety,fearandimpulsecontrol.Adisagreementcanveryquicklyescalateintoatragedy.Wehaverecentlyhadissueswithaformeruniversitycolleague,whommanyfearedwouldlashoutagainstus-allowingfirearmsoncampuswouldmakeatensesituationlikethisturnugly.
IwillstronglyconsiderleavingUTifthisbillpasses
Althoughtheriskofmassshootingsissmalloverall,theriskofmassshootingsismuchhigheringunfreezonesthanoutsideofgunfreezones.IhavemuchlessconcernaboutallowingindividualswithtrainingintheuseofahandguntocarryoncampusthantheconcernthatIcurrentlyfeelfrombeinginagunfreezone.Theveryfact
4
thatsuchcarrywereallowedwouldreducetheriskofmassshootings.Asaholderofacarrypermit,Iwouldnotexpecttocarryoncampus.However,therehavebeentimeswhenIwantedtogototherangeandfiremyweapon,butUniversitypolicyprohibitmefromevenhavingmyweaponinmycarparkedoncampus.Thathasbeenaninconvenience.
Asalibrarian,Iwouldfeelveryuncomfortablewithgunsbeingallowedinthelibrary.
thewordsofJohnMcEnroe:"Youcan'tbeserious!"
Thankyouforasking.
Theabovecommentsapplywherebearersofarmshavecurrentcarrypermits.
Icaninnowayjustifyallowinggunstobecarriedoncampus.
Asafacultymemberhere,IwouldseriouslyconsiderleavingUTKifmystudentswereallowedtocarrygunsintomyclassroomoroffice.WhileIdonotwantgunsinmyclassroomandthinktheywillmakecampuslesssafe,Iamunsureofthelegalbasisofallowingindividualcampusestosetthesepolicies.
Thismeasureisabsolutely100%theWRONGwaytohelpcreateasafecampus.
Ihavenofearofotherfaculty/staffhavinggunsoncampus.shootersonlytarget"no-gun"zonesfortheirattacks,sologically,thepresenceofgunswoulddeterkillings.Howthisisnotclearlyevidenttopeopleisuncleartome.
Ihavealwayswantedtocarryadouble-barreledshotguntoclass,butnotifIhavetoconcealit.
Thiswouldbeaterriblemoveinallrespects.
Iamdeeplyalarmedaboutthepossibilityofstudents,facultyorstaffcarryingfirearmsoncampus.Asaneducator,Iamnottrainedtodealwithasituationwhereastudentorcolleagueproducesafirearminmyclassroom,aneventthatIfeelismuchmuchmorelikelyifpeopleareallowedtocarryfirearmsoncampus.Ifeelthatthislawisputtingmystudents,colleagues,andmyselfinharmswayfornootherreasonthantoimposeanideologicalposition.Thereisnoreasontohavefirearmsoncampus.Idon'twantthemhere.Certainlythesecondammendment,whichisspecificallytalkingaboutthemaintenanceofanorganizedmilitia,isbeingstretchedtothepointofabsurditybylawsliketheoneproposed.
SuchlawswanttomakemegobacktoEuropeagain!Suchlawsarenotadequateforacivilizedcountry!
Ourcampusdoesnothavetheauthoritytoliftrestrictionssetinplacebylawandlikewiseourcampusshouldnothavetheauthoritytolimitfreedomsgrantedbylaw.Imaginethatitwerecurrentlyillegalforlicenseddriverstodriveoncampus,butstatelawmakersfinallypassedalawthatguaranteestheprivilegeoflicenseddriverstodriveoncampus;howevertheUniversitydidn'tlikethelawsotheyaskediftheycouldbegrantedtherighttorestrictthenewfreedom;howevertheyweretoldnotheycouldnot.Caraccidentskillover30,000peopleeveryyearwhichisroughly3timesthenumberkilledbygunviolence,yetnoonewouldrallypeopletoopposehavingcarsoncampus.Idonotwanttobeinaplacewheresuchidioticideasareallowedtobecome"law."Guns?Canwehaveabilltoforceeverysinglelawmakerofthestatetotakecoursesinsocialsciencesandhumanities?Whynot?Seemstheirterminalilliteracyisagreaterthreattohumanitythanglobalwarming.IthinkIwillleavethiscampusshouldsuchastupidideaturnintolaw.Addinglotsofgunstoourclassroomswouldcertainlyundermineeveryone'ssafety,andhurttheagendaofadvancinghighlevelintellectualpursuits.Iwouldplanonlookingforemploymentelsewhereshouldmystudents
5
andcolleaguesstartcomingtoclassesandfacultymeetingspackingfirearms.
Byallowinggunsoncampus,itwillnotonlyincreasethechancesofviolenceoncampus,butitcanseverallydamagethereputationoftheuniversity.Therewillbenegativepressandstrongfacultythatdisagreewiththecarryinggunsoncampuswillleavetobeatamoresaferenvironment.
Wedonotneedgunscarriedbystudentsand/orfacultyonourcampus.
AllowinggunsoncampusisNOTinthebestinterestsofthecampuscommunity.
Asaprofessorwhomainlyteachesverylargecoursesinthehundredsofstudents(whereIdon'tgetthechangetoknowstudentsonanindividuallevel),frequentlyencountersandreportsinstancesofplagiarism,andteachessensitivetopicsrelatedtoglobalandidentitypolitics,Iwouldbeextremelyuncomfortabledoingmyjobifgunswereallowedoncampusandinmyclassroom,andfeelsureitwouldaffectmyteachingnegatively.Ialsobelievethatgunsoncampuswouldnegativelyaffectstudents'comfortinparticipatinginclassandengaginginproductivedebatewithotherstudents.
Iamcompletelyagainstanyone,faculty,staff,studentsorvisitors,havinggunsoncampus.
Imgenerallyfor2ndamendmentissues,however,myprimaryissuewiththisbillisthatconcealedweaponspermitsarenotallthatdifficulttoobtain,andassuch,Iwouldfeellesscomfortableinmyclassroomifnumerousmembersoftheclasswerearmed.Atthesametime,Irecognizethatthereisapotentialforsomeonetostopanactiveshooter,buttheoddsofthistypeofattackarereasonablysmall,andIwouldexpectmyinstitutiontoputintoplaceothermorerobustdefensesbeforeresortingtothistypeofsolution.Ivehementlyopposegunsoncampus-orinanypublicplaceforthatmatter.Iamhorrifiedthatweevenhavetodiscussthisissueinaneducationalcampus.
Asacenteroflearningweshouldprovidebothstudentsandfacultyaplaceofsafetywithoutthefearofviolence.
Pleasedonotallowgunsoncampus!Asaprofessor,myperceptionofbeingunsafeinmyworkplacewillincreaseastronomically.
thisisnottheFarWest!
ThesearenotthesortsoflawsTennesseanshaveelectedtheirlawmakerstospendtimedrafting.ThesearethesortsoflegislativeinitiativesthatcontinuetoworkagainstimprovingtheimageofTennessee,recastingitasaforwardlookingstateworthinvestinginasaplaceinwhichtoinvestandgrowone'scompany.Iflegislatorswishtoliveinastatewheretheycancarryaconcealedweapononauniversitycampus,theywoulddowelltomovetoTexaswheremanylike-mindedpeopleawaitthemandtheoverallintellectualcapitalofourlegislatureincreasebytheirabsence.Gunsoncampuswillleadtomoreaccidentaldischargesandultimatelystudent,faculty,staffinjuriesanddeaths.Itisnotapparentthatitwouldpreventlarge-scalemassacressuchaswhathappenedatVirginiaTech.
Ivoted"StronglyDisagree"onitem2becauseIdon'tthinkgunsshouldbeallowedonanycampus.
MyfacultyresignationislikelyintheeventofHB1736
FirearmsofanytypehavenoplaceonaUniversitycampusexceptinthehandsoflawenforcementofficers.
UTispartofastatesystem.Itshouldfollowtherulesthestatesystemestablishes.
Safetyshouldbeourkeyissue;ifallowinggunstobecarriedbycertified/licensedindividualsprovidesasaferuniversity/campus,thenIsupportit.
6
ThedaythishappensIwillresign.
IfweaponsonUniversityofTennesseecampusareapproved,wewillbegintoacceptinvitationstointerviewatotheruniversities.weshouldbeabletooptoutonlyifthereisalawtooptoutof-otherwiseallcampusesshouldprohibitgunsoncampusandifTHAT'sthelawthengreat!
Gunattheuniversity!!!!Sillyidea
Gunsshouldnotbeallowedoncampus.Ifanarmedofficeristakingcourses(asituationwehavehadinourdepartment),thatsituationisunnervingenoughforinstructorsandstudents.Ican'timaginetheleveloftensioninaclasswerenon-uniformedstudentsallowedtocarry.Iwouldfeelpersonallyonmyguardandwouldsuspectthat,consciouslyornot,thestudentwasusingtheguntointimidatemeastheprofessorand/orotherstudents.Agunconfersitsownauthority--thethreatofviolence--thatunderminestheprofessor'sputativeinstitutionalauthority.ShouldIcarryaswelltoassertmydominanceand,perhaps,makemyselfandstudentsfeelsafer?Thatwayliesmadness.Thisisappalling,dangerous,completelyuninformedandveryshortsighted.IwillnottolerateanyguninmyclassroomandIconsiderthisanintrusionoftheNRAwhichshouldbeblocked.Thisisaplaceofeducationwheremindsmeetandwherewestrivetoachieveconsensusthroughdiscourse.ItisnotagunshoworaDonaldTrumprally....Thesecondquestion,regardingeachcampushavingtheauthoritytosetitsownpolicies,requiresamorenuancedanswer:Idon'tthinklocalmunicipalitiesandcampusesshouldbedecidinggunpoliciesandlawsatall.Ithinkthatthestateorfederalgovernmentshouldregulatethis,justastheydoaccessandexposuretotobaccoproductsandsmokingpolicies,forinstance.ButiftheywillnotactuallyREGULATEgunssothattheyareonlycarriedbytrainedlawenforcementpersonneloncampuses,thenyes,everycampusshouldhavetheauthoritytosetitsownpoliciesregardingguns.Gunsneedtobecontrolled,muchmorereasonably,andcarefully,thantheyareinthiscountryandthisstate.Thecurrenttrendsinthestatelegislaturewithrespecttoguncontrolareill-consideredanddangeroustotheveryfabricofoursociety,aswellastothecorevaluesofauniversity,ofeducationalexcellenceandacademicfreedom.GunsoncampusesisnothingshortofaSTUPIDidea.Theonlyreasontobearmedoncampuswouldbetoneutralizeanactiveshooter.Thatrequiresthekindoftrainingthatswornpoliceofficershaveandthatmostcarry-permitholdersdonot.Peoplewhocarrygunsoncampusneedtobetrainedandcertifiedtodealwithactiveshootersituations,andtohavethatcertificationrenewedonaregularbasis.Toallowgunsoncampuswithoutthesekindsofsafeguardsvirtuallyensuresthatanyactiveshooterincidentwillhaveevenmorevictimsbecauseoffriendlyfire.
GunsshouldNOTbeallowedoncampus!
Thelogicthatmoregunsmakeussaferisfundamentallyflawed.IamVERYSTRONGLYopposedtoanygunsoncampus,exceptpolice.Shouldsuchagunlawbepassed,IwouldchangemyresponsetoQuestion2.Individualcampuspoliciesonthisissuewouldbeproblematic,butifHB1736ispassedthenthisisthebestbackupoption
IwillmostlikelyresignUTKifgunswereallowedoncampus.
Thisbillisjustoneofmanybadideasputforthbyourlegislators
Allowinggunsoncampuswouldmakemefeelmuchlesssafe.
Thesecondquestionissomewhatdifficultformeasworded.Inmyopinion,gunsshouldnotbeallowedonanycampus.Itshouldbeablanketrestriction,andcampusesshouldnothavetheabilitytodecidetoallowguns.TheLegislatureshouldbeintelligentenoughtorecognizethatcampusesareinherentlyvolatileplaces,giventhematuritylevelofstudents.Thereisnoissueofpersonalrightshere--thatideaisaredherring.However,I
7
recognizethattheintentofthequestionistopreventourcurrentLegislaturefromforcingustoallowgunsoncampus.And,inthatsense,Isupportthemechanismthatallowsreasontobubbletothetop.
Inanenvironmentwherestudents/peopleareoftenobservedandevaluated,feelingsareoftenhurt.Havingaccesstoaweaponwouldonlymakethesituationmorevolatile.Iwouldfearformylifewhenargumentsoccur.Ifthispasses,expectanexodus-likeeventofyourtopscholars.Wewilltakeourgrants,ourdoctoralstudents,andourCVstoanotheruniversity.UTcansaygoodbyetoitsdreamsofTop25ranking.Myguessisthatquestion3willhavenoeffectwhatsoeverontheproponentsofthislaw,whodistrustuniversityfacultyandwhothinkthatmakingfacultyfeeluncomfortableinclassrooms(andhencelesslikely,astheyimagineit,tospreadliberalpropaganda)isoneofthebenefitsofthebill,notoneoftheunintendedconsequences.Ifthisisaboutfacultyandstaff,Idonothaveaproblemwithconcealedcarry.Studentsontheotherhand,Idohaveaproblemwithconcealedcarryforthem.Regardingcampuspolicy,Iactuallybelievethatinstitutionsnotbeabletodeterminetheissueofgunsoncampusbecausethelawshouldbestatewide(nationwide)thatnooneoutsideoflawenforcementpersonnelbeallowedtocarryfirearmsonpublicproperty.
Gunsandweaponsofanykindhavenoplaceonanuniversitycampus.
Thereisnoplaceforgunsoncampus.Thisisanon-issue.
Thismakesmesick.Youcan'tfosterasafetrustingcampuswithgunsaround.Goingtoincreasesuicidesuccesses.Insteadoffightingpeoplearegoingtokilleachother.IrecallBrianGard'scommentthatittakesadaytoteachsomeonehowtouseafirearmandayeartolearnWHENtouseafirearmagainstanotherperson.Ithinkweshouldleavethisskilltoouraccreditedcampuspolicedepartment.Theideaiscompletelycrazytobeginwith.There'senoughofaconcernaboutangrystudentsbeingaggressiveabouttheirgrades,buttoallowthemtocarrygunsandaddthattothemix?Terrifying.Yes,peoplecanhidegunsandbringthemin.There'snodoubtingthat.Butwhentheycanreadilybringgunswithoutanyconcern,eventhenicestpersoncanlosecontrolandshootsomeoneelse.Criminalswillbecriminals.Thatwon'tchange.Butaweaponinthehandsofastressed-outandangrypersoncaneasilymakethatpersoncrossthelineintocriminalbehavior.It'snotworthit.IfeelasifI'mfallingdownalogicalrabbithole.Gunsshouldneverbeoncampus,period.Ifashooterisoncampus,whataretheoddsthatanythinglikeasensiblede-escalationwouldtakeplace?Ifthewouldbeshooterswanttohaveconstantaccesstotheirweapons,letthemcarrysticksandstones.Idon'tunderstandwhythisisevenanissue.Whofeelsasthoughagunisnecessaryonacollegecampus?Letthegunslingersfindriflerangesandblastawayatpaperpeople.Idon'twantthemaroundmeanywhere,especiallywhenI'monmywaytoteachingaclassinHumanities!!
Pleasestopthisinsanity.
Iwouldactivelysearchforanewjobifgunswereallowedoncampus.
ThisiscrazytalkandwillcauseTennesseeBrainDrain,whichbaseduponthisproposal,issayingsomething.Kidswithgunsisabadidea.Ishouldn'thavetosayanymore.Whatiswrongwithourlegislature?Therearesomanymorepressingconcernsthangunsoncampus.Thisisoneofthelegislature'sWORSTideas-andthey'vehadplentyofbadideas.Itisanespeciallybadideaconsideringthenumberofshootingsatschoolswe'vewitnessedoverthelastfewyears.Iwouldfeelafraidinmyclassroom,knowingthatsomeoneintheclassmightbecarryingagun.Studentsgetangrywithteachers-weallknowthat.Anangrystudentwithagunmightactoutimpulsivelybyusingthegun.Undergraduatesarenotyetadults-theymaintainatendencytobeimpulsive.Ifthisbillpasses,IwillconsiderearlyretirementbecauseIdon'twanttobefearfulinmyownclassroom..Seriously.
8
Thethoughtofgunsbeingallowedoncampusisterrifying.Collegecanbeanextremelystressfultimeandonatleastseveraloccasionsstudentshaveattributedtheirlossofascholarshipordismissalfromtheuniversitytoapoorgradetheyearnedinmyclass.Mostotherinstructorshavesharedthesameexperience.AllittakesisonesuchstudenttoactoutontheirangerwithaweaponandpeoplecouldbekilledorseriouslyinjuredandUTwouldbecomethenextVirginiaTech.
Thereisnoroomforfirearmsoncampus,endofstory.
Asateacher,wholovesteaching,Iwouldconsiderquittingmyjobiffirearmswereallowedinmyclassroom.
Moregunsdonotmakeussafer.Istrongly,stronglyobjecttofirearmsoncampusandfeelextremelyuncomfortablewiththeideaofconcealedweaponsinmyclassroomandonourcampus.Thankyoufordoingthispoll,andthankstothevoicesofreasonthatareinsistingcampusesgettodeterminetheirownpoliciesregardingthisissue.Facultyoftendealwithstudentswhoareemotionallyvolatileforanumberofreasons,maybesufferingfromanxietyoveracademicperformance,andoccasionallywithstudentswhoaredealingwithmentalhealthissues.IdonotwanttohavetoworryaboutastudentbeingarmedwhenIamdiscussingdifficultissueswiththem.InmypersonalandprofessionalopinionIbelieveFACULTYwhochoosetocarryaconcealedweapononcampuswithaTNawardedpermitshouldbeallowedtocarry.Inlightofcampusshootingsthathavehappenednationwideinournationshistoryitcouldsavelivesshouldanactiveshooterdecidetocomeoncampus.Idonotbelievestudentsshouldbeallowedtocarryasifundertheinfluenceofsubstancespoordecisionscouldoccurthatcouldcoststudentandfacultylives.IpersonallyhaveheldapermitinanotherstateforafewyearsandnowhavebeenawardedahandguncarrypermitfromthestateofTNandIwouldcomfortablebeabletosafelyknowwhenandhownottousemypistoloncampusIFtherewasanactiveshooterwhoenteredmyclassroomorwasoncampusinmypresence.IbelieveifthecommunityknewthattherecouldbeseveralfacultyyouMAYBECARRYINGitmaydeteranactiveshooterfromcomingontocampusknowingtherecouldbeotherspreparedtodefendstudentsandfacultyoncampus.Itisnoteasytoobtainapermitandthereisrequiredclassroomtraining,withexaminationandneedtoproveyouknowhowtouseyourpistolwith75%accuracyinyourfinalperformanceexaminationnottomentionitiscostly.SafetyisoftheutmostessenceandIpersonallywouldfeelmuchsaferoncampusknowingthatsomeofmyfacultypeersmaybecarryingaconcealedweaponshouldanarmedshootercrisisoccuroncampus.Campuspolicecannotbeatallplacesatalltimesoncampus.Historyhasproventhatmanyaconcealedcarrierhassavedlivesnationwidewithanactiveshooterincident.Thankyou!IfgunsarepermittedonUTK'scampusIwillimmediatelyresignmyfacultypositionandseekemploymentelsewhere.Anarmedclassroomisincompatiblewithauthenticlearning.Iamaprofessorandahunter,whohasusedgunsformostofmylife.Theyaregreatontheshootingrangeorinthefield,buttheyhavenoplaceinschoolsortheworkplace.IrejecttheNRAargumentthathavinggunsinpublicplacesmakesussafer.Thereisnodatatosupportthis.Allowingfirearmsintomyclassroomisterrifying.Iwouldnotfeelsafer,andmostlikelywouldleavetheuniversityifthisbecamepolicy.Simplystated,iftheridiculouschildreninthestatelegislatureforcethisbillthrough,I'llresignfromtheuniversityandmovetoastatethatdoesn'tforcethissortofpurelyideologicalnonsense.Iwillnotfeelsafeinaclassroomwitharmedstudents,andIwillnotteachtothem.
UndernocircumstancesdoIsupportallowingfirearmsoncampusinanycapacity.
Ridiculousidea.Nofirearmsoncampus!
Ibroughtthisupwithmyfamilyatdinnerlastnight.Myson,whoisaloyalUTfanandhadbeenproudthatUTmightbehis1stchoicecollege,commented,"Well,IguessIdon'thavetodecideaboutloyaltytoUT.I'mnotattendingauniversitywithabunchofgunsoncampus!"Thisandsimilaractionsbyourlegislatorsarehurtingourstate![redacted],PhD,Professor,UniversityofTennessee
9
ThewordinginQuestion3reflectsthesurveydesigner'sbiasagainstthisproposedbill.Thisbilldoesnotallowforanyonetobringafirearmintoaclassroom;thebillisforthosewithalegalpermittocarryafirearmintoaclassroom.Aswritten,thisdistinctionisnotmadeinQuestion3.Iwouldnotfeelcomfortableifsomeonewithoutafirearmpermitbroughtaweapontomyclassroom.However,IwouldfeelcomfortableifsomeonewhohadtakentheHandgunSafetycourseandalegalhandgunpermithadaconcealedhandguninmyclassroom.IdisagreethattheeachuniversitycampusshouldsetitsowngunpoliciesbecauseIthinkthatitshouldbeastatewidepolicythatgunsarenotallowedoncampus.Iwouldhopethestatewouldsetamandatethatgunsarenotallowedininstitutionsthatreceivestatefunds.Ideallythatwouldincludemosteducationalinstitutions.
Whatevercanbedonetointerrupt/derailthiseffortshouldbedonewithvehemence.
Candidly,Idonotthinkthequestionscapturethecomplexnatureofthisissue.Campusesaretargets.Iffolkshaveconcealedweaponspermitsandhavebeenvettedbytheauthorities,thentheanswersarequitedifferent.ThequestionsofthispollwerepurposelychosentoappeartoaskusabouttheTennesseelawbeingproposed,butactuallytoleanthepersontowardthedesiredNo-Yes-Noresult.Thisisdishonestpolling;whoeverdesignedthequestionsisguiltyofpullingadeceitfulbaitandswitch.Iansweredthequestionintermsofthewordingofthelawitself,i.e.,appliedtofacultyandstaffwhohadlawfulcarrypermits.Shame.Icompletelyopposetheideaofanyoneexceptforthepolicetohaveweaponsofanykindoncampus.Idobelievethatmoneyandeffortwouldbewellspentinprovidingclassroomsandofficeswithmethodsofsecuringthemfromintrudersandmanynewsshowshavecoveredvariousdevicesdesignedforthispurpose.Protectingourselvesandourstudentsisourfirstpriorityandtheweaponryshouldbelefttothepolicewhoaretrainedtoappropriatelyusethem.Emotionsoftenrunhighattheendofthesemesterandthethoughtofarmsinthehandsofanyoneotherthanthepoliceisaterrifyingthought.Thisbillunderminesacademicfreedomashavinggunsintheclassroomwillchillspeech.Thereisnorationalbasisforadvocatingsuchapolicyasnoresearchshowsthatthepresenceofgunsdecreasestheviolence.Infact,researchshowsjusttheopposite.Also,thesecondquestioninthispollissomewhatproblematicallywritten.Itisnotclearfromthewayitiswrittenwhattheabilitytosettheirownpolicieswouldmean.Idon'tfeelgunshaveanyplaceoncampus.Icarelittleaboutifitisalocaldecisionorastatedecision.Gunssimplydon'tbelongoncampus.Question3isnotspecificenoughtotheproposedlegislationathand.Thequestionoffirearmsingeneralintheclassroom(assumingthewiderstudentbodybyphrasing)andfirearmsincontrolofafacultyorstaffmemberaretwodifferentquestions.WhileIstronglydisagreethatacampusenvironmentisaplaceforwideracceptanceandadoptionoffirearms,Ialsounderstandthelegitimateconcernsofemployeesthatmaybepresentedwithaviolentconfrontationofastudent.Theabilityofrestrainingordersandcampusbanstokeepanindividualdeterminedonpurposesofdestructionjustdonotwork.UTPDisgreat,howeverIalsorealizethatinasituationwheresecondsmattertheirabilitytointerveneandrapidlycontrolasituationislimitedandultimatelythecontrolofsuchanindividualliessolelyontheresponsibilityontheindividualsincontactatthatmomentintime.Ifstudents,facultyandstaff,aretaughttorun,duckandcoverratherthandefendthemselvesveryaggressivelywearelivinginautopianveilthatwillinevitablybepiercedpotentiallytogreateffect.Students,facultyandstaffshouldbehighlyencouragedtoattendinformationaltrainingsessionsonhowtoproperlydefendthemselvesandtheirpeersiftheyarepresentedwithasituationwhereharmmaycometothemorthoseincloseproximity.Iamcuriouswhatotherconstitutionalprotectionsthefacultysenatethinksshouldbeuptothediscretionofcampuspolicies.Regardlessofone'sopinionsontheparticularpublicpolicywisdomofgunsoncampus,constitutionallawisfairlyclearonthismatter.It'sembarrassingevenhavingtovoteonthisissue.Allowingweaponsoncampuscontradictswiththeveryprincipleoftheeducationandwiththenatureitself.Fearanddestructionhavenoplaceinschoolsystemandneitherindevelopedsociety.Encouragecreativityandinspirelearningthroughkindnessandcareandnotwithconcealedcarry.Ifgunsareallowedoncampus,Iwillhavetoreconsidermyemploymentattheuniversity.Iwillnotteachoncampusifgunsareallowed.Clearly,Istronglyopposegunsoncampus!
10
INEVERwantfirearmsinmyclassroomoronthiscampus.
Itisinsanitytomethatweareevenconsideringthis.Gunshavenoplaceonacampusoratanyschool.People'schildrenareonthiscampus.Gunsdonotpreventviolence,hello?
Ifgunsareallowedoncampus,Iwillnolongerworkhere.
Thisproposedpolicyisinsane
Usingafirearminanactiveshootersituationrequiresextensivetrainingandregularpractice.Otherwise,armedamateursaremoreofaliabilitythananasset.Wedon'tneedwannabeheroeswieldingdeadlyforceoncampus.Thatmakestheuniversitylesssafeforeveryone.Idonotwanttoallowgunsoncampus.Soinregardstoquestion2,Iwouldnotwantmyuniversitytobeabletosetitsownpoliciesifitfeltlikegunsshouldbeallowed.
InlightoftherecentmassshootingsintheUnitedStates,thisissimplyareallybadidea.
Allowingfirearms,whiletheymaybeouttherealready,wouldcondoneabehaviorthatisadversetothemissiontheuniversityischargedwithcarryingout.Itworksagainsteverythingwearetryingtoaccomplishinourteaching,researchandservice.Ihavebothgunownersandnon-gunownersinmyfamily.WhileIappreciatetherightoffolkstoowngunssubjecttoappropriatelegalrestrictions,Ialsoknowthat,formany,gunsarenotaneverydayitemintheirlives--bysocializationorbychoice.Thecapacityofgunstododamagetopeopleandpropertymakesmanyfeeluncomfortablewiththem.Theysignifypalpablepowerincertaincontexts.Theycanalterthedynamicsinsocialsituationsveryquickly.Theymakesomepeoplefeelnervousandotherpeoplefeelsafe.Theytendtodistractbecauseoftheirverynature.Idonotthinkthisiswellappreciatedbythoseforwhomgunsareapartoftheireverydaylife.ButmanypermitholdersIknow,includingfamilymembers,doappreciatethefactthatgunsalterpersonalandgrouprelationships.Asaneducator,Iwanttocreateanenvironmentinandoutsidemyclassroomthatisconducivetolearning.Gunspresentapotentialdistractioninourlearningenvironment,inmyview.Thisistruewhethertheyarecarriedbyfacultyorstudents.Gunscarriedbyfacultymayalterthepowerdynamicintheteacher/studentrelationshiporinrelationshipsamongfacultyorbetweenfacultyandstaff.Gunscarriedbystudentsmayalterrelationshipsamongstudentsorbetweenteachersorstaffandstudents.Imaginehowgradedisputeconversations,forexample,maybeimpactedbythepresenceofgunsinthehandsofthefacultymemberorthestudent--inparticularincircumstanceswhereoneofthetwoisnotaccustomedtogunsinhisorherdailylife....Moreover,gunsinthehandsofanyoneonacollegecampusmakethelawenforcementtasksignificantlymoredifficultforourlawenforcementofficers,whomwehiretoserveusandkeepusassafeaspossible.Therulesofengagementfortheseofficerswouldbemuchmorecomplexifgunsarepermittedoncampus.Asthingsnowstand,alawenforcementofficeroncampuscancountonthefactthatanyonecarryingagunoncampusisinthewrong.Thatwouldnotbetrueifwepermitgunsoncampus.Ifwehopetomaintainorderonthecampusthroughtheuseoflawenforcement,weshouldnotpermitgunsoncampus.Iknowthatmanyarguegunsoncampuswillmakeussafer,sinceapersonwithaguncanmorequicklyshootdownanactiveshooterinanemergencysituation.Whilethatmaybetrue,thesmallsituationalbenefitsthatmayberealizedcomeatabiggercostthanIamwillingtopay.Iampersonallyunwillingtomovefromalawenforcementmodelforcampussecuritytooneof"selfhelp"orvigilantisminwhichfacultyandstudentstakemattersintotheirownhandsbybrandishinggunstoshoototherswhobrandishguns.Thecapacityformistakestobemadeandmoreviolencetoensuewhengunsareinthehandsofnon-lawenforcementpersonsonourcampusisjusttoomuchofadetrimentforme.Isupportresponsiblegunownership,butIdonotsupportgunsinaneducationalenvironmentofanykind—includingonacollegecampus(outsidethelawenforcementcontext).Thanksforaskingformyviewsonthis.IappreciatetheFacultySenatesponsoringthispoll.
Iwouldlikelyresignifthisweretohappen.
11
Thereisnoneedtoallowgunsoncampus.Wewouldcertainlynotbesafer.
IstronglybelievethatallowinggunsoncampuswouldimpingeupontheUniversity'sabilitytofulfillitsmissionandwouldmakeitmuchmoredifficultfortheUniversitytoattracthighqualityfacultyandstudents.Formepersonally,allowinggunsoncampuswouldmakeitmuchmorelikelyIwouldleavetheUniversityifgiventheopportunity.Inadditiontothechangeinatmospherewroughtbysuchapolicy,itwouldspeakvolumestotheStateLegislature'slackofcommitmenttoafirstratehighereducationsystemandwillingnesstosacrificeeducationalqualityinordertoscorepoliticalpoints.
NOCAMPUSESSHOULDBEGIVENOPTIONSTOHAVEGUNSONTHERESPECTIVECAMPUSES!!!
ISTRONGLYOBJECTtothisbill.Itwillbea"gateway"billforevenworsegunpolicyonuniversitycampuses.
Iwouldstronglyconsiderleavingtogotoanotheruniversityifgunsareallowedoncampus.
Allowinggunsoncampus(beyondpublicsafetyofficers)isterribleanddangerousidea.Itwouldjeopardizetheentiremissionofthehighereducationandfosteranenvironmentoffearandparanoiaoncampus.Iabsolutelyopposefirearmsoncampus.IthinkallowingthemwillNOTatallcreateasafercampuscommunity.Ithinkthatitwouldmakelifeoncampusfarmoredangerous.Iwasn'tsurehowtoanswerthesecondquestion.Idonotthinkthatthereshouldbegunsoncampusevenifthecampuseswouldliketohavethem.Thelegislatureisbeingdisingenuous.Theyaresupportingabanongunsintheirenvironsbasedontherecommendationoftheirpoliceforce.Theywanttoforceuniversitiestoallowgunseventhoughourpoliceforcerecommendsthattheynotbeallowed.IhaveencouragedmysonnottoattendtheUniversityofTennesseebecauseofthisissue.Neitherhisfathernorhisgrandfathercarriedgunswhiletheywereoncampus;theyweresaferthanhewouldbeattendinganinstitutionwheredisgruntledstudentscanbringaguntocampuswithoutanyonequestioningthem.Sadendtoafamilylegacy.Inlightofincreasingnumbersofon-campusshootersandthepotentialthreatofdisgruntledstudents,Iwouldfeelmorecomfortablebeingabletohaveaconcealedweapononcampus.Ihavebeenthroughallthepropertrainingandamaresponsiblegunowner,andIfeellikeIshouldhavetheopportunitytocontinuetocarrymyfirearmatwork.Thosewhowouldseektoharmotherswithafirearmaregoingtodosowithoutregardtocampuspoliciesbanningthem,leavingourstudents,faculty,andstaffunarmedandunabletodefendthemselves.Fornumber2itdependsonwhatthestatelawisinthisregard.Ithinkwewillhavemoredeathsastheresultofallowingconcealedweaponsoncampus.Iwouldconsidersearchingforanotherpositionatanotherinstituteifthiswastooccur;thisdoesnotbelonginaclassroom/Ican'timaginethathavingarmedciviliansinmyclassroomorelsewhereoncampuswouldmakeitsafer.Ingeneral,policedepartments,includingcampuspolicedepartments,opposeguns,concealedoropenlycarried,oncampusbecausetheymaketheirjobsharder.
Inlightofrecentuniversityandschoolshootings,itseemsinsanitytoallowgunsoncampus.
Thislawmaycausefacultytoleaveorresign.ItwouldcertainlyforcemetoreconsidermyfutureatUT.Istronglyopposeit.
Thisisafoolishanddangerousidea-safelearningenvironmentsareNOPLACEforfirearms.
IFTennesseelawmakersmakeitpossibleforconcealedweaponstobecarriedoncampusTHENeachuniversitycampusshouldhavetheauthoritytosetitsownpoliciesregardinggunsoncampus.AsanelderlywomanwhoneverhadaguninmyarmsIwouldfeelvulnerableifstudentsormycolleagueswouldhaveconcealedweapon.
12
Havinggunsoncampusisinsane.Period.
Idonotwantanyweaponsinmyworkplace.
Gunsdonotbelongineducationalsettings,ever.
AsaprofessorIwouldnotfeelcomfortablewithstudentsand/orfacultyhavinggunsoncampus.Ifeelthatitwouldstiflerobustdebateoncertainsubjectsandwouldhaveothers,includingmyself,livinginfearthatsomeonewoulduseafirearmduringclass.Thisideaofgunsinanacademicenvironment,whichisnotonlytheclassroom,threatenstheverynatureofopendebate,academicfreedomandfreedomofspeech.ThefacultyattheUniversityofTexasfindthemselvesfacinganightmareasthisisbeingimplementedthere.Thefacultydonotfeelsafer.Quitethereverse.Whoseneedswouldgunsoncampusserve?Thiswasnotaneedexpressedbyourstudents,facultyandstaff.Itispoliticalposturing.StopusingtheUniversityofTennesseeasapoliticalfootball.Guns,youngmindswithpoorimpulsecontrol,significantageforonsetofmentalillness.Addinalcoholanddrugabusebysome.Whatcouldpossiblygowrong?IamagunownerandmyhusbandisNRAmember.Thisbillscarestheheckoutofme.Allowinggunsintheclassroomwouldmakemefeelincrediblyterrifiedformysafety.It'ssheerinsanity.Itwillexposefacultyandstudentstoyerribrisk.Thisisaterriblebill.
Iamstronglyopposedtogunsoncampus!
Ifthebillpasses,Iwillbelookingforapositionatanotherinstitutionorwillbemovingoutsideofacademia.IhavebeenatUTsin1999.Ithinktheselegislatorsneedtogettheirheadsexaminedratherthanspendingtaxpayersmoneyforthesekindsoflaws.Thesecondamendmentshouldbenullified.Nootherindustrialandeventhirdworldcountryintheworldhassuchamendmentintheirconstitution.Keepgunsoffcampus,asidefrompolice.Itisincrediblewearehavingtohavethisdiscussion.ButjustsayNOGUNS!Asafacultymember,Iwouldfeelunsafewithgunsintheclassroomandwithworkingoncampusafterhours(oranytimeforthatmatter).Iwouldnotwanttoteachifgunswereallowedintheclassroomoranywhereoncampus.Iamnotsuretherelevanceoftwoofthequestionstothelawbeingconsideredinthehouse.Isthisaboutgunsoncampusandfirearmsintheclassroom,broadlydefined?Oraboutfacultyandstaffwithlegalpermitstocarry,andthesefirearmsoncampusandintheclassroom?Thequestionsbelowthestatementseemmuchbroaderthanwhatisentailedinthehousebill,yettheysuggestarelationshipbetweenthem.
Idon'tthinkgunsshouldbeallowedonanycampus.
Nonormalsocietytoleratesweaponsinaclassroom,otherthanamilitaryclassonweaponstraining.
I'mwatchingthiscarefully.Itwillaffectmydecisionaboutwhentoretire.IhaveneverhadasemesterthatIdidn'thaveatleastonetroubledstudent.Sincewediscusscontroversialissuesinmyclass,Iwillfeelveryuncomfortableifthispasses.IsthelegislaturegoingtoallowgunsontheHouseandSenatefloorswhentheyareinsession?Iwillactivelysearchforajobatanotherinstitutioninastatewithmorerationalgunregulationsshouldthisbillbecomelaw.Thisisaverybiasedquestionnaire.Itshouldclearlystatepeoplewithlegalconcealedcarrypermitswouldbeallowedtohavegunsoncampus.Itisnotthegoodguyscreatingchaosinschoolsanduniversities;peoplewithoutlegalpermitsintentonhurtingpeoplehavefreeaccesstocampuseswithvirtuallynorestrictions.After
13
theshootinghasstarted,itistoolate.Thebadguysknowthattheywillhaveseveralminutestoharmpeoplebeforepolicearrive.Ifcampuseswerenotsuchaneasytarget,theymaythinkotherwise.Idon'thavetoremindanyoneofthesituationsatVirginiaTech,thecommunitycollegeinOregon,therecruitingstationinChattanooga,schoolsinColorado,etc,toknowthatthisisarealisticthreat.Idobelievethatthereshouldbeadditionalrestrictions/registrationsoncampusessothatthepoliceknowwhoiscarrying.Peoplewithanymentalhealthissuesshouldnotbeallowedtocarry.Thereisabsolutelynoplaceforconcealedorovertfirearmsonourcampuses,otherthaninhandsoflawenforcement.Ibelievethateachcampusshouldhavetheauthoritytosetitsownpolicies,butIdoNOTbelievethatallowinggunsoncampusisinthebestinterestofthecampuscommunity,andthereforeIdoNOTbelievethatanycampusshouldallowgunsoncampus.Eveniftheyhavetheauthority,itwouldbeamorallyunjustifiedpolicy.
Iftherearegunsinmyclassroom,Iwon'tbethere.
Thereisaninconsistencybetweenthewordingofthesequestionsandthebillbeingproposed,inthatquestions1and3makenomentionofuniversityemployeesbeingthoseauthorizedtohavefirearmsoncampus.Ifeellikethefreedomtoshareone'sopinionswouldbegreatlydiminishedifindividualskneworfearedthatsomeonewithadifferentviewpointorstronglyheldbeliefmightbecarryingagunatanytimeduringclass.Iknowoffacultythatwouldconsidermovingoutofstatetootheruniversitiesthatbangunsfromclassrooms.Thepresenceofgunsoncampus,whetherinthehandsoffaculty,staff,orstudents,isfundamentallyanddiametricallyopposedtotheeducationalmissionoftheuniversity.IstronglyopposealleffortstolegalizetheirpresenceonUT'sandothercampuses.Question3istrickandpoorlydesigned.Ifonlyfacultyandstaffcarryintheclassroom,thennostudentsdo,sowherewouldthepluralfirearmscomefrom?Bemorerigorous.ForQuestion2,myopinionisthatthereshouldbenogunsallowedonanyuniversitycampus.Onlyifweareforcedtoallowthosewithcarrypermitstobringtheirgunsoncampus,thenIstronglyagreethateachcampusshouldhavetherighttosetitsownpolicies.Iamappalledthatthelegislatureisevenconsideringthis.Iwouldnotteachmyclassesifgunswereallowedoncampus.Ifeelstronglythatthisisamistake,willnotmakecampusorourstudentssafer(infacttheopposite)andthatUTKmustbeabletomaketheirowndecisionsregardingthisissue.IfitpassesIwillbelookingforworkatotherUniversities.Therearemanyotheralternativestogunsoncampustomakeourstudents/faculty/stafffeelsafer,theleastofwhichisbettermentalhealthfacilitiesandmoreinclusiontomakestudents/faculty/stafffeelpartofacommunitythatcaresabouttheirwell-being,aswellastheirintellectualdevelopment.
Iwouldbetemptedtoquitifgunswereallowedoncampus.Icouldnotfeelsafe.
Istronglybelievethatgunsshouldnotbeallowedinpublicplaces.Theuniversityisapublicspaceforlearningandforthediscussionandexchangeofdifferentideas;inaspacelikeauniversitycampusthereisnoplaceforgunsofanykind,foranybody,faculty,staff,students,otherthanpoliceorlawenforcementpersonal.IwillfeelveryuncomfortableandinsecureifIknowthattherearepeoplearoundcarryingguns.Ibelievewearesaferwhenwedon'thaveguns;inaacivilicesociety,asoursir,problemsandconflictsshouldbedealinadifferentmannerGunsoncampusareanabsurdity.Iwouldseriouslyconsiderresigning,ratherthangoalongwithapolicyallowingthem.Moregunsareonlygoingtoleadtomoreviolence,orattheveryleasttoamoretensesituationoncampus.Studentswillnotfeelcomfortableknowingthattheirteacherispotentiallyarmed.Moreover,therearesomanypossibilitiesforerror-accidentallydroppingorfiringagunifone'sbagfallsonthefloorduringclass,say,orinnumerableotherpossibilities.Allthestudiesshowthat"goodguyswithguns"isafalsemodel,andthatincreasedgunpresenceleadstoincreasedviolence.Gunsdonotbelongonourcampusinanyplaceexceptinthehandsoftrainedlawenforcementofficers.Thisisnotonlyaterribleideaforourcampuscommunity,itwillalsomakeithardforustorecruitthebestscholarsfromaroundthecountryandaroundtheworldtojoinourfaculty.Ourcampusshouldbeabletosetits
14
ownpolicyaboutthis.
Ifeelcomfortablewithfacultyandstaffbeingallowedtocarrylegalfirearmsoncampusandintheclassroom.Gunsarealreadyoncampus,butareonlycarriedbythosewillingtobreaktherules.
Frightening!
Knowingthatsomestudentsorfacultyandstaffarecarryingweaponswouldaffectmyteachingandtheworkenvironmentinaverynegativeway.I'dbeterrified.ThissurveywouldflunkSurveyDesign101.Neverstartasurveyorquestionwithleadinginformation.Areyoutryingtogetthetruepulseofthefacultyorareyoutryingtoleadfacultytovoteyourway?AsaTNlicensedhandgunpermitholderandaUTfacultymember,Ifeeltherighttocarryagunshouldnotbeinfringedupon.Inthecurrentatmosphereofpeopleshootinguplargegroupsofpeople,thereneedstobeawaytodefendourselveswithoutrelyingonothers,i.e.campuspolice.Theycan'tgettothesceneofacrimefastenough.
Thereshouldbeaseverepenaltyforcarryingweaponsoncampus(notjustforgunsbutforotherweaponstoo).
Ibelievethattheonlyweaponsallowedoncampusshouldbethosecarriedbywell-trainedlaw-enforcementofficials.
Unfortunately,gunsoncampusandinclassroomscannotbestopped
Gunsonlyescalateviolence,notpreventit.
IhavePTSDfromanincidentofviolence--avisiblegunmighttriggerareaction,andcouldconstituteahostileworkenvironmentforme.Ifthegunsareproperlyconcealed,itwouldn'tbesomuchofanissue,butjustknowingthatgunsarelikelytobeinmanyofthesharedspacesoncampuswouldincreasemyanxietylevel.Idon'twantgunsinmyclassroom.Ihaveworkedatauniversitywheretherewasamassshooting,moregunsisnotgoingtohelpanybodyanditisnotgoingtomakeUTanysafer.
Please,pleasereadthewholeoftheSecondamendment.
Personalfirearmsshouldbepermittedoncampus.Withouttheabilitytoarmthemselves,facultyandthestudentswithintheirclassroomsareleftwithnomeansofdefenseintheeventsuchactionisneeded.Manytragediescouldhavebeengreatlydiminishedoravoidediffirearmswerepermitted.PermittinggunsinaclassroomisprofoundlyopposedtoeverythingItrytoaccomplishwhenIteach.Iworkhardtoestablishaclassroomsettingthatvaluesmutualrespectandthoughtfuldiscussion.Thepresenceoffirearmswoulddirectlythreatentheconversationthatcanhappenintheclassroomandthuswoulddirectlydecreasethequantityandqualityofmystudents'learning!Notonlywouldfirearmswouldhampermyfreespeechandthatofmystudents,butIwouldfeelsignificantlylesssafeifIknewthatgunswereoncampus.Dataonthispointisclear:thepresenceofgunsisdirectlycorrelatedtoincreasedviolence,harm,anddeath.Please,pleasedonotallowgunsoncampus.
Iwouldconsiderresigningifgunswereallowedinmyclassroom
IwouldstronglyconsiderleavingtheUniversityofTennesseeforanotherinstitutionifthiswerepassed.
Letthepolicedotheirjob,andwe,ours.
I'maUTKalumandcurrentfacultymember.Istronglypreferthatnooneexcepttrainedlawenforcementofficersbeallowedtocarrygunsoncampus.Absolutelynot,gunsshouldnotbeallowedoncampus.IfthebillispassedIwouldhopeeachcampuswouldstillbeabletosayno.
15
Thereisnoneedforgunsoncampus.Furthermore,ourstudentsandtheirfamiliesmayreconsiderstayingatorattendingUTshouldthisbillpass.Asafacultymember,alumnus,andmotherofarecentgraduate,IamashamedthatthisisbeingdiscussedinNashvilleandhorrified.Idonotthinkanyofthemwouldlikeagroupofoutsidersdeterminingthestatusofgunsattheirworkplaceor,inthecaseofourresidentialstudents,theirhome.Ourcampuslawenforcementprofessionalsdonotsupportthiswhichshouldbegoodenough.Iwonderwhatwillhappenwhenqualifiedfaculty,honorsstudentsandhighlyrecruitedstudent-athleteschoosenottocometoUTandchoose,instead,toteach/study/playonagun-freecampus.Maybethenthemessagewillbereceived.NOGUNSATUT!Inregardtoquestion#2,ifthelegislatureallowsthisinanepolicytogointoeffect,thenISTRONGLYAGREEthateachuniversityshouldhavetherighttosetitsownpolicy.However,thisquestionshouldneverhavetobeposedinthefirstplace.THESTATELEGISLATURESHOULDNOT,UNDERANYCIRCUMSTANCESALLOWGUNSONCAMPUS,ANYWHEREINTENNESSEE.THEPOLICYTOALLOWANYGUNS(concealed,open-carry,orincarsinpublicparkinglots)ONCAMPUSES,ANYWHEREINTHEWORLD,COMPLETELYINTERRUPTSACADEMICFREEDOMSOFSTUDENTS,FACULTY,ANDTHESTAFF.TOALLOWGUNSONCAMPUSATANYTIME,FORANYREASON,ISANUNINTELLIGENTANDIRRESPONSIBLEREACTIONTOUNSUBSTANTIATEDPOLITICALFEARMONGERING.STOPTHIS.Gunfreezonesaredangerousplacestobeandwheremostmassshootingsoccur.Forthatreason,Idonotliketoworkorspendsignificantamountsoftimeingunfreezones.Asasocietywearemuchsaferduetoconcealedcarrylaws.Policeorsecurityusuallyonlyarriveaftertheshootingbythecriminalhasended.Ifyouwanttoprotectyourselfandothers,promoteconcealedcarry.
ThedayweallowgunsinclassroomsisthedayIquit!
Ican'tsayTERRIBLEIDEAloudenough.
WhenIwasingradschool,astudentinmyclasshadapsychoticbreak.Hestalkedandtargetedmembersoftheclass.Itwasterrifying.Hadwehadacampusthatpromotedandnormalizedthepresenceofguns,Iamnotsuretheendofthestoryforallofuswouldbethesame.Asafemalefacultymemberandascholarofwomen'shistory,Iamalsoawareofthefrighteningconnectionsbetweendomesticpartnershipviolence,guns,andthemurderofwomen.Ourlegislatureiseitherignoringthesesstatisticsoroperatingundertheillusionthatwomentrainedtousegunsarelesslikelytobevictimsofgunviolence.IopposeaddinggunstothemixwhenUTKisalreadygrapplingwithtroublingreportsrelatedtosexualassaultonthiscampus.AsascholarofNativeAmericanhistory,itisclearthe"right"toowngunshasneverbeenauniversallyappliedright.Legislaturespasslawsthatdecidewhogetsaccessandwhoisdeniedaccesstoguns.Historydemonstratesthatthosewithlegalaccesstogunsoftenusetheirgunstolimittherightsofothers.Tooffertwoexamples,soldiersconfiscatedthegunsofCherokeepeopleduringforcedremovalfromtheirhistorichomelandsinthisstatetoIndianTerritory,whatistodayOklahoma.Plantationownerslimitedenslavedpeople'saccesstogunstokeepthemfromchallengingtheirlegallysanctioneddehumanization.Collegecampusesarefilledwithyoungadultsawayfromhomeforthefirsttimewhowillencountersocial,cultural,andpoliticaldifferencesforthefirsttime.Theymayexperiencetheonsetofmentalhealthissuesforthefirsttime.Itismorethanlikelytheywilldrinkanddodrugs,bothofwhichimpairjudgment.Iopposenormalizingthepresenceofgunsinthesesituations,whichwillonlyleadtoanescalationinviolentanddeadlyoutcomeswhenconflictoccurs.Irejectthatweneedgunstoprotectourselvesfromoneanother.Ifwedo,thenasaneducationalinstitutionthatseekstruthandunderstandingofthehumanconditionthroughknowledge,wehavefailed.Iamadamantlyopposedtogunsoncampus.Allowinggunsoncampuswillmeanthatmoregunswillbepresent.Itisafactthatwhenmoregunsarepresent,suicideratesincrease.Isthiswhatwewantforourstudents?
Iamstronglyopposedtogunsoncampus
TheUniversityshouldopposethisbillinthestrongestpossibleterms.Thedataareunequivocalthatallowingmoregunsreduces,notincreases,publicsafety.
16
Ourstudentscarryfirearmsinourclassrooms;attackshappenoncampus(sometimesinbroaddaylight)andinthegarageswherefacultymustpark.WhydoInothavetherighttoprotectmyselfandothersshould(Godforbid)aviolentthreatpresentitself?Thepossibilityof"classroomrage"istooreal.Thepossibilityofgun-carryingpeopletryingtobeherosandgettinginthewayistooreal.Thepossibilityofaccidentaldischargeofagunistooreal.Wemustseearmingcitizensforwhatitis:athreattopublichealth,athreattochildren,womenandthevulnerable,andnationalsecurity.GunshavenoplaceinanyschoolK-university.PuttinggunsoncampusisoneoftheabsolutelydumbestthingsIcanimagine.Ihavefacedliveincomingfire.Youhavenoideahowyouwillreactuntilyouseeit.Ihavealsodonelivefire"lifeanddeathfiringdecision"training.Mostfolkshavenoideawhatitisliketomakethosedecisionsorhowdifficultitistomaintainfiringdisciplineunderintenseconditions.Mostfolksdon'trealizewhatitfeelslike(eveninatrainingexercise)tomakethewrongdecision.Itisterrifyingtothinkaboutwhatmight(islikelyto)happen.GunsdoNOTbelongoncampus.Evena"wellregulatedmilitia"ispronetomakingterrifyinglybaddecisions-Ihatetothinkwhatcouldhappenduringamateurdaywithagun.IwouldbeVERYconcernedifitbecameacceptable,particularly,forstudents,tocarryweaponsoncampusandintoclassrooms.Imaginehavingadiscussionoveracontroversialtopicwhenthepersonyouaredebatingisarmed.Juststrikesmeasnotagoodthingforlearningandfreeexchangeofideas.
Pleasestopthisnonsense.
Iamstronglyopposedtoany/allguysbynon-lawenforcementprofessionalsoncampus.
Thereisnoplaceforgunsoncampus.Itisadisasterwaitingtohappen.
IdoNOTwantgunsonourcampusandinourclassrooms!Thisgoesagainsteverythingforwhichinstitutionsofhigherlearningstand.Iwouldonlysupportthisiftheyallowconcealandcarryinthestatecapitalandinthesenateandhousechambers.whatissauceforthegooseissauceforthegander.Eachuniversitycommunityshouldhavetherighttodecidewhethergunsareallowedoncampus.Ifthisbillispassed,Tennesseelegislatorswillbeimposingtheirpersonalpreferencesoneachuniversitycampuswithnoinputfromorregardforthewilloftheuniversitycommunity.Tennesseelegislatorswillbeguiltyofusing"biggovernmenttactics"toenforcetheirwill.Thisbillcannotpass!Itisaterribleidea.Moregunswillnotpreventtheproblem,butrathercomplicateapotentialthreat.UTPolicecanhandlethisjob.IDONOTwantanygunsorweaponsinmyclassroom!!Ihavebeenastalkingvictimandowpersonalfirearmsinmyhome.Ifanyonewouldbedeservingofhavingagunforprotectionitisme.Iunderstandthatwiththehighdensityofpeopleoncampus,havinggunswouldunderstand,onemysafetyandnotenhsnceit.Pleasesaynotogunsonacollegecampus,exceptpolice.Ifsuchabillpasses,itwillnegativelyimpactfacultyandstaffrecruitmentandretention,andwillpotentiallydecreaseout-of-stateenrollment.Iwoldconsiderfindingemploymentelsewhereifeitherfacultyorstudentswereallowedtocarrygunsoncampus.Noonecanteachcontroversialsubjectswhentheydon'tfeelsafe.Thisisanotherwayofinfringingonacademicfreedom.Questionthreeisabittricky.Iwouldnotfeelcomfortablehavingstudentsintheclassroomwithfirearms.But,Iwouldfeelcomfortablecarryingmyown.Thisistrulyadealbreakerforme.IwouldresignfrommypositionatUTKifgunsarepermittedoncampus.Idonotthinkthatcriticalthinkingandlearning-noracademicfreedomgenerally-canberealizedinanenvironmentoffearandimpendingviolence,whichispreciselytheenvironmentthatgunsoncampuswouldcreate.
17
Thisisaegregiouslybiasedquestionnairewithaforegoneconclusion.EvenifIdon'tsupportgunsoncampus,Idon'tlikethisquestionnaireatall.Question1isnot"Allowinggunsoncampusisinthebestinterestofthecampuscommunity."Question1shouldbe"Law-abidingindividualspermittedtocarryfirearmsbythestateofTennesseeshouldnotbeprohibitedfromexercisingthatrightoncampus."Asitiswritten,question1includesthepossibilityofillegalgunsoncampus,whichhasnothingtodowiththebill.Thisislunacy.Innowaywillallowingfirearmsoncampus,byfacultyorothers,enhancetheefficacyofouruniversityinanycapacity.Allowingfacultyandstafftocarryconcealedweapons,withapermit,oncampusatpubliccollegesanduniversities...........madness!insanity!Ileftmypreviousinstitutionforthisveryreason.IwillalsoleavetheUniversityofTennesseeifstudentsarepermittedtocarryweaponsinmyclassroom.TherearebrilliantmindsthatdesiretocometoschoolinKnoxville.ThiskindoflegislationembarrassesourUniversityandstateonanInternationallevel.Ibelievethatgunshavenoplaceoncampus,astheywouldthreatenthefreeexchangeofideasoncampusaswellastheintegrityoftheteacher-studentrelationships.Allowinggunsoncampusisinvitingmoreviolencetohappen.Iwouldfeelveryunsafeifthisbillispassed.Pleasestopthisbill.
IwillbeleavingtheUniversityofTennesseeifthisridiculouslawpasses
Ifgunsareallowedoncampus,Iamgoingtohavetofindapublicplacetomeetwithstudentsandwouldconsidernolongerholdingofficehours,atleastnotinmyoffice.Thiswillsometimesinfringeonstudentprivacy,butIdon'twanttofeellikeIamputtingmylifeatriskifastudentstopsbymyofficehours.Ioftendealwithstudentswhoareeitherupsetthattheyarenotdoingwellinmyclassorwhoaregoingthroughmentalhealthcrises.IwantstudentstofeellikeIamthereforthem,butIalsowanttomakeithometomyfamilyatnight.Idon'twantalawthatputsthosetwogoalsinconflict.Yourquestionsareloaded.Whatdoes#3havetodowiththebillathand,giventhatthisbillwantstoallow*fulltimestaff*(notstudents),tocarry?Surely#2couldbedifferentiatedbetweenprivateandpublicinstitutions.-----IsurewouldfinditsafertowalktomycarafterlatehoursifIwereallowedtocarry.
Allowinganysortofweaponsoncampusisindirectoppositiontotheeducationalmissionofthisuniversity.
Iamstronglyopposedtogunsoncampus-evenifrestrictedtofacultyandstaffortospecificareasoncampus.Withtheexceptionofpoliceorsecuritypersonnel,thereshouldbenoneedtohaveaweapononcampus.Ifpeoplefeelaneedtocarryagun,thenwearenotcreatingtheenvironmentthatisneededtosupportlearning,growth,andexpression.
Scary...
Therearecertaincircumstanceswhenfirearmsarerequiredorrecommendedforresearchinmycolleagues'fields.Mostdartgunsusedtotranquilizeordeliverdrugstowildlifeareclassifiedasfirearms.Also,somecolleaguesrecommendcarryingfirearmswhenconductingresearchinremoteWildlifeManagementAreasorotherparksforpersonalsafety.IhopethatwewouldallowfirearmsinUTvehicleswhenoffcampus.FirearmshaveabsolutelyNOplaceatinstitutionsoflearningunlesstheyareinthehandsoflawenforcementpersonnel.Thisisanideaconceivedbyideologicaltwits.Onacampusriddledwithsexualassaultandproblemswithdiversity,gunsoncampusisaskingforkidstobekilled.Atthesametime,theideologicaltwitswhoreallybelievethesegunswon'tmaketheirwayintostudenthousingareextraordinarilyfoolish.Nothingsaysnightmarelikestudent+alcohol+guns.Believinganythinglessisjustlikediggingyourownheadintosand.Andfinally,wealsohaveacampusrifewithstudents--fromavarietyofperspectives--whorejectanyoftheirbeliefsbeingquestioned.Asateacher,I'malreadyaccountingforthat.DoingwhatI'vealwaysdone--andwhatIwastrainedtodo--is*over*ifstudentsarepackingheat.AndIsuppose,quitefrankly,that'sexactlywhatTennesseeLegislaturewants.That'showanorthodoxystaysinplace.
18
IhavebeenstudyingandworkingatUniveristiesmyentirelife.Ihaveneverfelttheneedtohaveaweapon,eitherasastudentorasafacultymember.Thistypeoflegislationisaninvitationtodisaster.
Ifthereisarealissuethenthisshouldbesolvedbyhavingmorepoliceastheyhavetherequiredtraining.
1)IamnotopposedinprincipletothisBill(forcivilrightsreasons)butIwouldlikeourcampustodecideultimatelywhatitwantsforitself-withtheinputofUTPD.IfUTPDthinksthatallowingfirearmsoncampuswouldpreventitfromdoingitsjob,Iwillbeinfavorofaban.IfUTPDthinkshoweverthatitcanstilldoitsjob,giventherightlegal/financialresourcesetc,thenIwouldthinkthattheBillisacceptable.IdonotownagunnordoIplanongetting/bearingone,inoroutofcampus,andmypositionisbasedonhowIunderstandcivilrights.2)Ithinkthequestionsinthispollaresomewhatbiased,Iunderstandthebilltobelimitedtoemployees,andthequestionseemtobeinverygeneraltermsof"gunsoncampus"omittingtherestrictiontoemployees.IwonderbythewayifgraduatestudentsTAswouldbeconsidered"employees"forthepurposeofthisbill.Iwouldimmediatelygoonthejobmarketifthisbecamelaw.Iwouldneverfeelsafeoncampusifmystudentsandcolleagueswerepackingconcealedweapons.
notnogunsoncampusbutHELLNO,NOGUNSONCAMPUS
gunsareadangertoeveryone.itshouldbeillegaltorequiresomeonetoworkinahostileenvironment.
Answered#2asneutralduetothevarietyofwaystoensurethatgunswouldnotbelegalonTNcollege/universitycampuses.Ifleavingituptoindividualcampuseswasthelastresort,Iwouldstronglyagree.Firearmsoncampuswillbedetrimentaltoattractingandmaintainingtoptalentattheuniversity,whichincludesstaff,studentsandfaculty.This,combinedwiththestatelegislature'sassaultonourdiversityprograms,isgreatlyhinderingourgrowthandpotentialaswestrivetobecomeatop-25publicinstitution.Iamaresponsibleandhighly-trainedconcealed-carryhandgunpermitholderwhoweeklypracticesatalocalrangeandcompetesinregionaleventswithothertargetshooters.Ihavealsocompletedseveralscenarioworkshops,conductedbyvettedexperts.Iamnotjustsomeonewhopurchaseda.38specialtobrandishabout.Itakemyresponsibilityveryseriouslyandrespectfirearmsandtheiruse...bothforrecreationandforself-preservation.IalsoamoncampuslateatnightandmustwalkinthedarktomyvehicleandIalwaysamonguarduntilIarriveatmyvehicleintheparkinggarage.Iamfullycapableofusingmycocealed-carryfirearmtoprotectmyselfandwouldprefertohaveitonmypersononcampus,especiallyafterdark.Thispollneedstobemoreinclusive/descriptive...itdoesnotfullyaddresstheissuesthatIhavestatedhereinmycomments.Shouldanyonebeabletocarryafirearmoncampus?No.Shouldthoseindividualswhoaretrainedandwhohavelegalcarrypermitsbeallowedtoconcealcarryoncampus?Yes.Aconcernedfacultymember.Question#1isambiguousatbest.Question#2isfineasis.Question#3isalsoambiguousasstated.
Idonotfeelsafethinkinganyonearoundmemighthaveagun.
Gunsshouldnotbeallowedoncampuses,andnoTennesseecampusshouldbepermittedtoallowthat.Allowinggunswheretherearesomanyyoungpeopleandwhereemotionscanrunsohighisaninherentlybadidea.IwouldnotstayasafacultymemberattheUniversityofTennesseebeingpushedintoasituationwhereImighthavetomakealifeordeathdecisionaboutastudent,oraggressor.Wehaveprofessionallyqualifiedpeopletohandleguns,thepolicedepartmentandthemilitary,andletusbetheprofessionalweare,teachyoungpeopletohelpthemontheirlifejourney.Firearmsoncampuswouldcreateapotentiallyverydangeroussituation.Gunsoncampusareunnecessary,inappropriate,andjustnotagoodidea.Wehavecampussecuritytokeepussafe.Iffirearmsareallowedoncampus,itisonlyamatteroftimeuntiltempersflareandstudents,faculty,orstaffgetkilled.Whenthathappens,therewillbeabacklashandthismisguidedlegislationwillhavetoberepealed.Whygothroughthisfoolishexerciseinthefirstplace?Nogoodwillcomeofit.Ihave100studentspersemester.Everysemester,Ihaveatleastonethatisaggressiveandhostiletomeoranotherstudent.Whilethatmeans99studentspersemesterarewonderfultoworkwith,ifthisbillpassed,there
19
wouldalwaysbeoneIwasworriedaboutspeakingtoregardingtheirbehaviorbecausehemayhaveagun.Iwouldfeelunsafeinmyclassroomandinmyoffice(whichisonaveryquietandoftensecludedfloor).AsamilitaryveteranandonewhohasbeentrainedonfirearmsaswellascomingfromafamilyofgunownersIbelievethatitwouldbehighlyunwisetopermitfirearmsoncampusbythoseotherthandulyappointedandtrainedpolice.Thiswouldcauseunnecessarytensionandsafetyissuesintheclassroom,dormsandpublicspaces.Consideringthatevenwellandregularlytrainedlawenforcementandmilitarymembersmakemistakesthelastthingthatweneedonthiscampusareindividualslicensedbutnotproperlytrainedabletofreelycarryweapons.Thereisnoplaceforgunsonanycampusamongthegeneralpopulation.Studyafterstudyhasshownthatimproperstorageanduseofgunsisessentiallyapublichealthconcern.Duringfinalexamsandotherstressfultimesforstudents,gunsareatragedywaitingtohappen.Ifthisweretopass,Iwouldstronglyconsiderresigningmypositionandlookingforemploymentatanotheruniversity.
OMG!!!Gunsoncampus!!NOWAY...EVER!!!Please...NO!!!
Assomeonerunningoneoftheprogramsinwhichmoststudentstakecourses,I'vehadcountlessdisgruntledstudentsinmyofficeduringtheacademicyear.Mostaredealingwithahostofissues--stress,mentalillnesses,lackofsleep,etc--andareincrediblyangryaboutgradesorotherclassroomissues.I'vedealtwithastudentstalkinghisteacher,anotherthreateninganotherstudent,threatsagainstteachers,etc.Allowinggunsonourcampusesisaskingforthesestudentstomovebeyondthreatsandintoaction.Iandotherswillconsiderleavingthevocationweloveifthisbillisapproved.Wewillnolongerhavetheabilitytodoourjobseffectively.period.Gunscarriedbypeoplewithoutextensivepoliceleveltrainingwouldmakeourcampuseslesssafe.Stepsourlegislatorscantaketoimprovesafetyoncampusesincludefundingproximitycardaccesstoallbuildingsespeciallyafterhours,satellitestationsforcampuspolicetoimproveresponsetimeandintelligentCCTVsystems.Thestatementsinthismisguidedpollarefarmoregeneralthantheproposedlegislation,whichislimitedtofacultyandstaffwithconcealed-carrypermits.Icaneasilyimaginethattheresponsestothesethreebroadstatementsmightnotnecessarilyreflecttherespondents'opinionsonthespecificlegislation.Assuch,andIwouldstronglyencouragetheSenateleadershiptobeverycarefulandprecisewhencirculating,discussing,orinterpretingtheresultsofthispoll.
Weareacountryofidiots.
Gunshavenoplaceonacollegecampus.Ifstudentsareallowedtocarrygunstoclass,allofmyclasseswillbechangedtoon-lineonly.Asagunownerandpendinggunpermitholder,Idon'tlikehowquestion3isposed;itis"leading"inanegativeway.Thequestionshouldbeneutrallike"Asafacultymember,Ibelieveallowinggunsoncampusbylegalgunpermitholderswillnotnegativelyimpactthesafetyandsecurityofthecampuspopulation.
IfgunsoncampusareallowedontheUTcampus,Iwillstronglyconsidertogetajobinadifferentstate.
Thefirearmnevereverallowedtobekeptincampuswhatsoever.Thisisextremelybullyideatobringitup.Havingbunchofarmedbadmannered&goodmanneredmilitarystylestudentaswellasteachersdoesnotmakecompussaferathermakeitscarey
NOGUNSONCAMPUS!!!
Nofirearmsoncampus,period.
Ablatantlystupididea.Allstatisticssupportthesimplefact-whenthereisagun,chancesofitkillingsomeoneincreasesirrespectiveofgoodorbadintent
sadlyguncontrolhasbecomeaculturalissueandgunrightsisnowanessentialpartoftheredstatelandscape....
20
Noweaponsatcampus!
Legislatorsshouldstoptryingtomeddleandmicro-manageoureducationalsysteminTN.
Gunsoncampusisarecipefordisaster.I'venevernotfeltsafeoncampus.Introducingthefreedomtocarrygunsoncampuswouldchangethatequation.There'snoproblem,solet'snotcreateone.AIagreethateachinstitutionshouldbeabletodecide(localgovernment),butIwillhaveaveryhardtimeworkingandbeingcollegialatauniversitythatpermitsgunsoncampus.Iwouldlikelycometocampustoteach,butconductamajorityofmyofficeday/to/dayitemsatmyhomeoffice.
Unlesssomeoneispartofa'wellregulatedmilitia'thesecondamendmentdoesnotapply.
Absolutelyopposegunsoncampus.
Ithinktobringfirearmsoncampusisamassivemistake.IcannotbelievethatthisisevenaconsiderationfortheUTsystem.However,givenallthenegativepublicitythatwehavegotteninthelastyear,itisunderstandableforsomeofouradministration/facultywouldthinkthisisOK.Thisisnotagoodidea.Ifthisisallowed,thepotentialtopreventatragedyseemsFARSMALLERthanthepotentialforaccidental(orintentional)dangerandIwouldbequiteconcernedaboutmysafetyandtheworkplaceenvironment.
Iwouldseriouslyconsiderquittingandfindingajobelsewhereiffirearmsareallowedoncampus.
pleasenotethatthenumberofpeoplesbeingkilledbygunsmuchmorethanthenumberofpeoplebeingprotectedbyhavingagun.
GunsattheUniversotyisanawfulidea!
Researchhasbeenveryclearthatthevastmajorityofgunpermitholdersarenotadequatelytrainedtohandlemassshooterincidentsorcrimepreventiononcampus;itrequiresspecialtrainingandmanyhoursforpoliceofficers.Istandwithourcampuspolicewhothinkgunsoncampusaredangerous,unnecessary,andanadditionalliabilityforthewholecampuscommunity.Thisisoutrageous.Imightevensupportafacultywalkout.Ademonstrationisnotsufficient.Wealsoneedtogetouradministratorstopubliclycondemnthelegislature.
Iwishourlawmakerswouldletschoolsdotheirbusinesswithoutthisnonsense.
Thisistotalmadness.Iwillconsiderresigningfrommyfacultypositionifthisweretohappen
Iabsolutelydonotwantgunsinmyclassroom,inmybuilding,oronthiscampus.Weaponsdestroyanopenlearningenvironment.Mystudentsshouldnothavetoliveinfear,andneithershouldI.Idon'tmindfacultyandstaffhavingconcealedweapons,solongastheyarelockedandsecuredwhenoncampusandstayoutofclassrooms(exceptforcasesofemergency).Iamveryconcernedaboutstudentshavingconcealedweaponssincetheymovethroughoutcampusthroughouttheday(makingtheftmorelikely).Also,giventhatstudentsareatayoungandimpressionableagewherethingssuchasbadgradesandcriticizingfeedbackmightcausethemtomakeirrationalandshorttermdecisions,Idonotfeelcomfortablewithstudentsbringinggunsoncampusinanyform.
EachUniversityshouldnotbeallowedtosetpolicy-Nogunsonanycampuses!
Gunsaretoooftenassociatedwithaccidents!
21
IwasaprofessoratVirginiaTechwhentheshootingshappenedthere.Tosaythisissueispersonalforme.Ifmyvoicewouldbeusefulforadvocatingagainstthiswrong-headedbill,pleasedon'thesitatetocontactme:[redacted]ThereisNOreasonforanyonetohavegunsoncampus.ItonlymakeseveryonemoreparanoidandIdon'twanttohavetoworryaboutanangrystudentcomingintomyofficecarryinga"legal"guntoameetingtodiscusshis/hergrades.AsanewfacultymemberwhoisveryhappywithmypositionatUT,thisisthe#1thingthatwouldcausemetogobackonthemarket.IammakingsureIremainaviable,attractivecandidatejustincaseTNpassesacampuscarrylawandIneedtofindanewposition.Gunshavenobusinessonacollegecampus.PERIOD.Ifthislawweretobeenacted,IwouldlookforemploymentinanotherState.
Gunsoncampusisanincrediblystupididea.Gunsdonotmakeussafer.Theyputusinmoredanger.
Thisbilliscompleteinsanity.WhenIwasayoungmanIwatchedanepisodeofAllintheFamilyandthedimwittedprotagonistwasspeakingaboutairplanehijackingandhissolutionwastoarmeverypassenger.Itwasclearthatthiswasmeantasaridiculoussolutionthatwouldmakemattersmuchworse.Howisthatanydifferent?Weareaskingfortroubleifwepassalawlikethis.
Regarding#2-gunsshouldbebannedoncampus.
Nogunsoncampus!
Iamvehementlyopposedtoallowinganytypeofgunoncampus--concealedornot.
Studentshavegunsandiftheymeanharmtheywillbringthemanyway.
Definitelydonotthinkitisagoodidea.
Moreguns=moreopportunitiesforviolence.Gunsareforhuntinggame-theyhavenoplaceatauniversity.