As many might have seen on Facebook last week, Texas’ legislator passed a bill allowing for the concealing and carrying of firearms on state campuses. The initial assumption of many will be that Texas’ schools will be turned into old west style shoot outs where everyone has a rifle slung over their shoulder. Minnesota’s law allows for each individual campus to choose whether or not they want to restrict conceal carry. My question is, should SMSU allow legal conceal carry?

Before I get further into my argument, I would like to clarify some things. First and foremost, I think open-carry, or carrying a weapon in clear view, is an incredibly dumb idea. The thing that makes Texas’ new law logical to me is the word conceal; many people feel uncomfortable around guns and intimidating them by having a firearm visible will only make people uneasy. Secondly, I believe that allowing just anyone to have a gun is a similarly horrible idea. With training, campus conceal carry would be a great supplement to security. Without training, it would be the mess opposition to the bill claims it is.

One important thing to note when thinking about allowing conceal carry of firearms on campus is that most states require extensive training of carriers. Campus conceal carry does not mean issuing every sketchy freshman or adrenaline junky a shiny new Glock. It does mean allowing those who are willing to undergo training and become leally licensed to follow through with their rights.

Jon Miska, a licensed Minnesota weapon carrier, described the process to obtain a Minnesota carry license.

“You take a class, which can vary anywhere from two to six hours. I took a second one because I wanted to learn more,” Miska said.

Instructors who do firearm instructing for a living provide the training. The training consists of a target-shooting segment, where the applicants have to be able to hit a several foot long target from 10 yards and a segment going over the laws pertaining to conceal carry.

“The class went over when and where I can shoot someone,” Miska said. “[A conceal carry permit] is not a license to kill, it’s only a defense mechanism for when you have no other options.”

Regulations as to where a carrier can shoot someone are quite tight. According to Miska, the only time a permit holder is supposed to use their gun is if they feel they will be severely physically harmed.

Along with the training course, all applicants must pass a large background check with their local sheriff. Minnesota is careful about who it issues permits to, with violation of a single of many provisions being enough to deny an applicant a permit. The background check looks at both criminal and mental history, and will be denied if there are any mild violations in either category.

Many argue that allowing concealed firearms on campus will make people uncomfortable and make the campus community less safe, both of which are not true. Having all carriers on campus be well trained and licensed would basically mean extra security. Trained individuals who have went through the legal channels to carry a weapon are not going to cause any trouble and will in fact provide the campus extra security should the need ever arise.

Another concern is members of the campus community feeling uncomfortable around guns. With open carry this would be a very legitimate concern. But when it comes to conceal carry, ask yourself a question: did you feel unsafe last time you were in church? If you answered “no,” then you should not feel uncomfortable with conceal carry on campus, either. It is almost guaranteed that you pass someone legally carrying a gun everyday you go to church or the mall, and no one is intimidated because when a gun is properly concealed, it is completely unnoticeable to a passerby.

The go-to argument is just knowing that guns might be around makes people uncomfortable. But conceal carry is allowed everywhere except schools, so it is a moot point. They know that firearms are being concealed everywhere else, from restaurants to main street, but since they are out of sight, it is not a problem. Guns are legally concealed everywhere in our society, so why is a school any different?

In essence, allowing conceal carry on campus will add security in the event of the unthinkable and if done correctly, you will not even realize it is being done.

“I think it’s a good idea,” Miska said, referring to conceal carry on campus. “Not just anyone can carry it. You have to be qualified to carry a pistol. Giving one to just anyone who asks isn’t a good idea, but two hours of instruction time and going through a background check, that’s plenty.”