Thursday, 4 September 2014 - 10:50am
During the closing days of the spring 2014 semester, active shooters terrorized the University of California, Santa Barbara and Seattle Pacific University. Once again, our students, faculty and staff were put in harms way through these senseless acts of gun violence. In all, these two incidents left 8 dead and 15 wounded. Countless others will be affected in the future by the emotional trauma of these two senseless acts of violence.
As we prepare to welcome millions of college students to campus for the start of another academic year – it is timely to re-engage the debate around allowing guns and other weapons on campus.
We do not oppose gun ownership. However, in an increasing number of states, bills have been introduced or passed that allow, or expand eligibility for, individuals to possess guns on college campuses. We firmly oppose such laws.
Increasing the number of firearms in the hands of students, faculty, staff, and visitors presents an increased risk to our communities. Firearms on campus should be strictly limited to recruited, trained, and supervised police officers (federal, state, local or university police) or participants in institutionally endorsed educational programs for which use and carry of a firearm is a necessary requirement.
It is time for college and university faculty, staff and students to take a stand against guns on campus and to urge our students to do the same. The vast majority of faculty (94%) and students (78%) already oppose guns on campus. We believe that more guns will simply catalyze more violence. College campuses have been one of the safest communities in our country. Let’s keep it that way.
With a single voice, and representing over 50,000 student affairs administrators and educators on over 2,000 college campuses, we stand united in our opposition to any legislation that allows or expands the legal possession of firearms other than by trained law enforcement officers or through institutionally endorsed educational programs.
NASPA – Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education
ACPA—College Student Educators International
AFA, Association of Fraternity/Sorority Advisors
ACUHO-I, Association of College & University Housing Officers – International
ASCA, Association for Student Conduct Administration
NACE, National Association of Colleges and Employers