Not a Choice
The Oregon Daily Emerald‘s multimedia site recently posted a video in which students from the University of Oregon campus were asked what they thought about the possibility of concealed weapons on campus. With a few exceptions, most students responded as expected:
“I think that it shouldn’t be allowed, partly because I wouldn’t feel safe with some of the students who would bring weapons,” said one student (1:42).
Another felt that she didn’t feel guns were necessary, “It’s an environment where people are learning… and it’s supposed to be friendly and, like, a place where everyone can feel safe.” (1:51)
Only one person appearing on the clip addressed the true nature of the question and kudos goes to this girl for throwing her own self-interests to the wind in favor of recognizing the civil liberties of others, “The idea of people having concealed weapons scare me, but at the same time I believe a person’s right to have that weapon.” (1:32)
Apparently students on the campus of the University of Oregon have yet to take any course that gives them any common sense whatsoever, so hear this:
Civil liberties are not based on your own sense of justice, morality or preferences. They are based upon a document that is part of the foundation of these United States. To reason otherwise is against the nature of civil liberties in this country and against the Constitution.
Whatever your opinion on guns is, one must be careful to be mindful of the real issue here. The OUS has effectively taken up creating legislation all on their own, in defiance and violation of the laws of the state of Oregon. We cannot give them the power to do so, lest they expand their power beyond their current scope.
State laws allow the holder of a Concealed Hander’s License to carry anywhere in the state of Oregon except for federal courthouses and a few other areas. University campuses are not part of that list according to the state of Oregon. The ban on concealed handgun carry for holders of CHLs is therefore in direct violation of state law.
Of course, if you wanted to bring suit against the OUS directly you could always open-carry on campus. For those of you who don’t know, Oregon is an open-carry state meaning you are allowed to carry a gun at all times (less the places state or federal law prohibits) as long as it’s displayed externally.
Then again, you could let the OUS stomp all over your civil liberties. Apparently they enjoy it.
(Author’s Note: The Emerald staffer who made the opening panels might want to be careful how they word things next time. The second panel (0:04) said “The group seeks to eliminate the state’s ban on handguns…”. The “state” does not have a ban on handguns, dear Emerald staffer, the OUS does. Making a distinction between those two things is vital when you are trying to inform the masses.)
