Current Issues of 2017

     “A study from the Justice Department that indicates 20-25 percent of college-age women will be victims of a completed or attempted forcible rape during their undergraduate careers” (Kessler). What if there was something we could do to reduce these numbers? For the past four years, US citizens have been legally carrying a concealed weapon in all 50 states. Each state has different regulations to abide by, however.  Kentucky has what is known as a “shall-issue” state status and only honors permits or licenses from individuals 21 years of age or older (“Kentucky Gun Laws”).   The minimum age requirement under “shall-issue” regulation for Kentucky citizens should be lowered to 18 years of age, so long as all other requirements are met, to increase protection and decrease violent crimes of college students.

           

     You’re probably thinking the same thing that Utah Democratic House Representative and associate professor of psychology at Salt Lake Community College Karen Kwan thought when this very same argument was presented in Utah earlier this year.  She stated that, “the brains of 18-20-year-olds are still developing and have issues in the impulsivity department.”  (Kessler). You may also argue that granting permission to carry guns will only increase incidents of gun-related crimes and unintended injuries (“8 Significant Pros and Cons of Concealed Carry”).  This puts the mental maturity of 18-20-year olds in question. At the age of 18 you are considered mentally mature enough to vote, enlist in the military, and get married. You are considered an adult in every aspect by the government. An 18-year-old can legally purchase a gun, so shouldn’t they be able to carry it and protect themselves if needed on college campuses and universities where crime is so heavily prevalent? Instead of increasing gun-related crimes, a study by John Lott showed “a decrease in murders, rapes and aggravated assaults by 8.5%, 5% and 7%, respectively in states that allow concealed carry…Lott’s findings…translates into crime reduction” (“8 Significant Pros and Cons of Concealed Carry”). Also, the process to obtain a license for concealed carry is more than just passing a test. “Typically, those interested in a license will go to an 8-hour class where experienced instructors will not only teach what licenses provide for state residents, but also the laws of the state and when deadly force can be used” (Adcock).

           

     You might also argue that lowering the minimum age requirement to 18 years old will increase the percent of dangerous criminals acquiring weapons. However, Kentucky has a “shall-issue” state status. This means that the state of Kentucky will only grant permits for applicants that meet minimum requirements, have no recent commitments to a mental institution and no prior felony convictions (“8 Significant Pros and Cons of Concealed Carry”). The “shall-issue” regulations prevent unstable and harmful people from being able to carry a concealed weapon on them. According to the article “Should Adults have the Right to Carry a Concealed Handgun,” states that had “shall-issue” laws reduced their criminal percentages.

 

     Another argument you might propose is people that don’t carry a concealed weapon may feel less safe or uncomfortable around those that do carry in public places. The reality is you cannot go to most public places today without at least one person having a concealed gun on them. In 2015 over 12.8 million Americans received their concealed carry permit (“New Study: Over 12.8 Million Concealed Handgun Permits, Last Year Saw by Far the Largest Increase Ever in the Number of Permits”).  The majority of Americans support carrying a concealed weapon. According to a 2012 poll conducted for Thomson Reuters, 75% of Americans support laws allowing law-abiding citizens to get a permit to carry a concealed weapon (“Should Adults Have the Right to Carry a Concealed Handgun?”). Most people today feel safer knowing that if someone attacked them or a place, such as a restaurant or college/university, another person in the room or on the campus would be able to help them or even possibly save their life by having a concealed gun.

 

     You may also argue that weapons should not be allowed on college campuses or universities. There are a multitude of school shootings that happen in America every year, resulting in many deaths that could have possibly been prevented if college students were legally allowed to carry.  The school shooting at Virginia Tech. in 2007 claimed the lives of 32 people (Ordway). This attack was known as one of the deadliest gun massacres in U.S history (Ordway). Immediately after this attack, some lawmakers, parents and others began pushing for laws allowing students and faculty to carry weapons so they could better defend themselves in case of an attack (Ordway). Both parents and lawmakers felt that allowing students to carry a gun with a carry concealed permit, would protect not only themselves but other students and faculty members as well.  

 

     “According to the Association of American Universities, 23 percent of college students experience some form of sexual assault. Hannah Coleman, a student at Utah University, says not being able to carry a concealed weapon makes her a target” (Nunez). Hannah also stated that, “carrying a gun would bring her peace of mind while walking on campus by herself” (Nunez). Speaking as a college student I agree with Hannah. Many students are afraid to walk around campus by their self, especially at night. Being able to carry a concealed gun, would provide peace and comfort, knowing that if a dangerous situation was to occur you would be prepared.   At least 10 years ago many states presented bills aimed at allowing individuals with concealed carry permits to bring guns onto school grounds (“Campus Carry and the Concealed Carry of Guns on College Campuses: A Collection of Research.”).  “In 2013, according to the National Conference of State Legislators, at least 19 states introduced legislation to allow concealed carry on campus in some regard and in the 2014 legislative session, at least 14 states introduced similar legislation” (“Campus Carry and the Concealed Carry of Guns on College Campuses: A Collection of Research.”).

 

     Although there are some concerns regarding lowering the minimum age requirement for carrying a concealed weapon in Kentucky, I feel that the benefits outweigh those concerns. As a college student, I know firsthand how uncomfortable and frightening it can be, especially when I’m alone, on campus. Being able to protect myself from being another statistic and having a peace of mind can easily be achieved.  This could ultimately decrease a variety of college crimes statistics, while dramatically increasing students and staff’s safety. Through intense research I have found numerous facts and statistics that support my argument, which is why our “shall-issue” status should be amended by law to reduce the age requirement for concealed carry licenses in Kentucky to 18 years old, as long as all other requirements are met.

 

 

 

Works Cited

Adcock, Steve. “Five Benefits of Concealed Carry Permits.” The Daily Caller, 5 June 2013, dailycaller.com/2013/06/05/five-benefits-of-concealed-carry-permits/#ixzz4fPu9HxVk.    Accessed 26 Apr. 2017.

 

“‘Campus Carry’ and the Concealed Carry of Guns on College Campuses: A Collection of Research.” Journalist's Resource, 20 Dec. 2016, journalistsresource.org/studies/society/education/concealed-carry-guns-college-campus-research. Accessed 2 May 2017.

 

“8 Significant Pros and Cons of Concealed Carry.” ConnectUS, 24 July 2015,connectusfund.org/8-significant-pros-and-cons-of-concealed-carry. Accessed 26 Apr.     2017.

 

“Kentucky Gun Laws.” NRA-ILA, 12 Nov. 2014, www.nraila.org/gun-laws/state-gun-laws/kentucky. Accessed 26 Apr. 2017.

 

Kessler, Mori. “House Passes Bill Allowing 18-Year-Olds to Conceal Carry.” St George News,    23 Feb. 2017, stgeorgeutah.com/news/archive/2017/02/23/mgk-house-passes-bill-   allowing-18-year-olds-to-conceal-carry/#.WQIWz4WcH4h. Accessed 26 Apr. 2017.

 

“New Study: Over 12.8 Million Concealed Handgun Permits, Last Year Saw by Far the Largest   Increase Ever in the Number of Permits.” Crime Prevention Research Center, 29 July 2016, crimeresearch.org/2015/07/new-study-over-12-8-concealed-handgun-permits-last-year-saw-by-far-the-largest-increase-ever-in-the-number-of-permits/. Accessed 2 May 2017.

 

Nunez, Kiersten. “Proposed Bill Would Lower Minimum Age for Concealed Carry Permit in Utah.” fox13now.Com, 3 Feb. 2017, fox13now.com/2017/02/03/proposed-bill-would-       lower-minimum-age-for-concealed-carry-permit-in-utah/. Accessed 2 May 2017.

 

Ordway, Denise-Marie. “‘Campus Carry’ and the Concealed Carry of Guns on College Campuses: A Collection of Research.” Journalist's Resource, 20 Dec. 2016, journalistsresource.org/studies/society/education/concealed-carry-guns-college-campus-research. Accessed 1 May 2017.

 

“Should Adults Have the Right to Carry a Concealed Handgun?” ProCon.org, 31 Jan. 2017, concealedguns.procon.org/. Accessed 26 Apr. 2017.