Students, citizens have right to defend themselves
Matthew Gravens
Issue date: 7/22/08 Section: Opinion
This past Tuesday a University student, Cassie LeBlanc, was robbed while getting into her car after leaving the library around 9:30 p.m. The robber forced her against her car and asked for her wallet, then he discovered there was no cash. He decided he didn't want it, but after seeing text books on the front seat, the thief decided to take those instead.
I was very glad to hear LeBlanc was alright, but a very important question came to mind: What if she had a firearm to defend herself? Would this incident have happened?
My answer is probably not. The thief was unarmed. If Leblanc had possessed a firearm and simply pointed the weapon - loaded or unloaded - the thief would have probably run. I can imagine simple thieves like this are just trying to make a quick buck. As soon as things get complicated they usually run.
I can already hear what my opponents are saying, and they are right. If Leblanc was armed and pulled the firearm on the thief things could have gotten a lot worse. She could have shot him, he could have turned the gun on her and injured or killed her and it would have gone from a simple robbery to assault with a deadly weapon or murder. I understand this point, but what if it wasn't simple robbery? What if it was rape? I would like to see how many people change their mind on students' rights to carry firearms as soon as a young girl gets raped or murdered. Apparently no one got it after two international students were shot at their on-campus apartment.
Louisiana law does not allow anyone with a concealed carrying license to carry a firearm on any college campuses, public or private. This is obviously a violation of the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
To carry a concealed weapon in the state of Louisiana, an individual has to: complete a rigorous application, prove that he or she is more than competent in using the firearm, be fingerprinted by local police department and pay a fee. Not everyone can just go and get one of these permits.
I was very glad to hear LeBlanc was alright, but a very important question came to mind: What if she had a firearm to defend herself? Would this incident have happened?
My answer is probably not. The thief was unarmed. If Leblanc had possessed a firearm and simply pointed the weapon - loaded or unloaded - the thief would have probably run. I can imagine simple thieves like this are just trying to make a quick buck. As soon as things get complicated they usually run.
I can already hear what my opponents are saying, and they are right. If Leblanc was armed and pulled the firearm on the thief things could have gotten a lot worse. She could have shot him, he could have turned the gun on her and injured or killed her and it would have gone from a simple robbery to assault with a deadly weapon or murder. I understand this point, but what if it wasn't simple robbery? What if it was rape? I would like to see how many people change their mind on students' rights to carry firearms as soon as a young girl gets raped or murdered. Apparently no one got it after two international students were shot at their on-campus apartment.
Louisiana law does not allow anyone with a concealed carrying license to carry a firearm on any college campuses, public or private. This is obviously a violation of the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
To carry a concealed weapon in the state of Louisiana, an individual has to: complete a rigorous application, prove that he or she is more than competent in using the firearm, be fingerprinted by local police department and pay a fee. Not everyone can just go and get one of these permits.
Viewing Comments 1 - 6 of 6
D.B.
posted 7/22/08 @ 9:43 AM CST
Matthew,
Did you ask Cassie if she wanted firearms on campus, or if she even would have purchased one?
That might make your story's posterchild a little more relevant and effective. (Continued…)
Bad writing
posted 7/22/08 @ 10:19 AM CST
I completely disagree with your opinion.
Regardless of the content, you're a terrible writer and you shouldn't be writing for this or any paper. I would have given you a chance if you had more than subjective arguments and bad grammar. (Continued…)
john
posted 7/22/08 @ 11:00 AM CST
Please you gun nuts will not be happy until you can walk into someone's house with your six shooter slung low. The recent case in which the 2nd was erroneously applied to the individual, talk about activist judges disregarding precedence, made it clear that one's right to a weapon is not absolute and less restrictive measures such as time, place restrictions are legal where blanket bans in an entire city are not. (Continued…)
JP Gwaltney
posted 7/22/08 @ 12:08 PM CST
Right on man!!! I couldn't have said it better myself. We are doing everything we can to get the prohibition of concealed carry on campus eliminated. Thank you, great article. (Continued…)
Bambi Bukowski
posted 7/23/08 @ 10:37 AM CST
Carrying a gun is a good idea. Carrying an UNLOADED gun is a very bad idea. One should never draw a weapon if one is not ready to use it.
I am heartened to see a college student mention the government excess of social security. (Continued…)
Greg
posted 7/23/08 @ 2:40 PM CST
@john,
Please tell where it says in the Constitution felons are not allowed to defend themselves. Also, please tell me where the Constitution says felons can't vote. (Continued…)
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