I’m sure that those who live in Utah will remember a controversial incident that happened in September of 2002. In the wake of the increase of shootings found on school campuses, the University of Utah President Bernie Machen tried to ban all concealed weapons on U of U property. Utah, however, is the one state as of 2008 that allow concealed weapons to be carried onto public university campus. After this failed attempt, a huge debate raged not only in the state of Utah, but in though out the nation. Are schools the right place for guns? Gun rights activists kept quiet during the strict security of the 2002 winter Olympics. But now they were looking to “reload” (a metaphor that Sarah Palin would be very proud of).
The issue went straight to the US district court located in Utah, and their task was to decide whether or not this was a national or state issue. The court ruled that the states had the right to make these laws. The court also ruled later on that because the University was a public institution, it had no choice but to follow the state-wide law for allowing concealed carry permit holders to bring arms onto campus.
This follows along the age-old debate: Are we safer in a world without guns? Or are we safer with guns to protect us? Of course, no society is ideal, but a world without guns is much more promising than a world where people are allowed to carry around whatever they want. But for now, the University of Utah is still open to people bringing their guns into classes. Some people feel nervous by this, some people feel safer by this and until something happens, this will never change.
Tyler
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