Mission statement:

Armed and Safe is a gun rights advocacy blog, with the mission of debunking the "logic" of the enemies of the Constitutionally guaranteed, fundamental human right of the individual to keep and bear arms.

I can be reached at 45superman@gmail.com.You can follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/45superman.

Friday, April 13, 2007

This guy is going to be dispensing the "news"?

Last week, I wrote about the shrieking objections raised by the Southern Methodist University student newspaper's editorial staff, about the passage in Texas of Stand Your Ground legislation. Today we look at a piece written by another college student (a senior, and a journalism major)--this one at Western Kentucky University, indignantly stomping his little hooves over the fact that one of his fellow students (a police officer), attended class armed.

I was in a sociology class not long ago and noticed that an off-duty Bowling Green police officer was in the room. He was in his full uniform, including his utility belt, gun in holster.

Just thinking about it now, I am still in shock. A gun in a classroom! This is by far the dumbest thing I have seen as a Western student. There is no excuse for this.
Actually, Brandon, I don't know if anyone is interested in making an "excuse" for it--what is there to excuse?
I was discussing this with some of my classmates and I am convinced that there is no logical reasoning for this officer to have his gun.
If not his gun, whose would you propose he have?

Brandon acknowledges the very real possibility that the officer had no choice but to attend class fully dressed for work, but that's not good enough for him.
First of all, lets say he doesn't get out of class until 30 minutes before he is supposed to be at work. I don't care. If he can't find a place to lock his gun up until he is on duty, then he should reschedule his classes so that he gives himself more time.
And . . .
This officer was obviously off duty at the time and did not have to be fully equipped. If he cannot arrange his work and school schedules in a more conducive way, then he should drop a class.
So the officer should arrange his class schedule around your little neuroses, Brandon?
From what I understand, it's the law, not Western's policy, that says it's OK for an off-duty officer to carry his weapon if he chooses to do so. I understand the law, and I still disagree.

Our university buildings are supposed to be firearm-free. That rule should not change just because a person has a badge on their chest, unless they are there on official police business.
It may seem that I have been a bit rough on Brandon, so I'm happy to point out that we do seem to have one point of agreement--I think he is entirely correct that police officers should not get a free pass on rules/laws that the rest of us are required to obey. Therefore, campus rules should not artificially create a special "Only Ones" caste, and should instead get out of the citizen disarmament business entirely. How many shootings have there been at University of Utah?
If I see this again I will have to address it with the department head. I pay my tuition to come to school here, and at the very least I should have the guarantee of a safe and relaxed study environment.
I wonder what Brandon expects the department head to do about it--violate state law?
Simply put, under no circumstances should I ever see a gun in a classroom. Leave it behind. I do not care what you do with it, but do not bring it into a room full of people who are concentrated on achieving higher learning.
What, again, are you studying with such intensity that you must be spared even the sight of a holstered firearm, in order to avoid disturbing your concentration?
There is no way that a gun will ever comfort me while I am trying to learn about Karl Marx's views on society.
Ahh--nevermind.

Looks as if the next generation of what Mr. Codrea refers to as "Authorized Journalists" is just about ready.

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

I can only hope that if there ever is another Columbine little Brandon will be sitting there right up front so he can receive his "double tap".

I know, I'm horrible...

BobG said...

Did you check the comments to his article? Most of the people thought he was reality-impaired. Makes you wonder how a weenie like that is able to function in the real world.

Kurt '45superman' Hofmann said...

Yeah, the comments made me feel a bit better--maybe whatever it is that turned that guy into an herbivore isn't wildly contagious.

John R said...

"...maybe whatever it is that turned that guy into an herbivore isn't wildly contagious."

Kim calls it the pussification of America, and I find that phrase to be pretty accurate. It is contagious, and our schools are turning out more and more of these nit wits every year. This is why it is so important to take a kid shooting. Teach them right early and we will not have to worry about them ending up like this when grown.

Anonymous said...

I read the comments as far as I could stand. I was not heartened. It seems every comment I read focused on his law enforcement status and not on his citizenship status or unalienable rights as such.

In other words, the people I read that disagreed with Master Wilson, can't call him Mr., seemed to be looking for a new daddy to protect them, and were quite willing for a cop to be that daddy. Nowhere did I read anyone saying he was willing to protect himself or others and utter any support for a citizen's right to be armed for just such a circumstance.

As I say, I didn't read them all. I was too disappointed in pussification of the responders.

Kurt '45superman' Hofmann said...

That's a good point, SA--I guess I may have gotten a little too caught up in the fact that they at least didn't turn into pillars of salt at the mere thought of a firearm in class.

opaww said...

This officer was obviously off duty at the time and did not have to be fully equipped. If he cannot arrange his work and school schedules in a more conducive way, then he should drop a class.


Last I knew no law enforcement officer is really ever off duty. The same applies to the Military, even though they do get days off they are subject to call at any given time day or night.

Nate said...

Posting this MOnday morning as the news of 20+ dead and 20 more wounded at Va Tech, (a gun free campus) by one or more gunmen shooting up dormitories and classrooms, makes me wonder if that fool would have preferred being next to someone armed and prepared to defend themselves against persons with evil intent. The idea that college campuses are outposts of peace and tranquility, far from the scary people with guns needs to be replaced with the reality that killers will go anywhere there is a pen full of sheep to kill.

Kurt '45superman' Hofmann said...

Exactly, Nate. Coincidentally, this article (just published today) talks about the fact that VA Tech is pleased that a Virginia bill to end universities' victim disarmament zone status was defeated in sub-committee.

Virginia Tech spokesman Larry Hincker was happy to hear the bill was defeated. "I'm sure the university community is appreciative of the General Assembly's actions because this will help parents, students, faculty and visitors feel safe on our campus."