Bullet proof: Survey shows 78 percent of students oppose concealed weapons on campus
Illustration by Andy Casadonte | Art Director
A new study conducted by Ball State University found that a majority of students who attend college in the Midwest oppose concealed handguns on campus, even though lawmakers in the region are pushing for the opposite.
Published in the Journal of American College Health, the study, which surveyed 15 Midwest colleges, found that 78 percent of 1,649 undergraduate students were shown to be against concealed-carry handguns and would not choose to obtain a permit if it was allowed. Those who saw advantages were both more likely to be male and own a gun. The majority of women surveyed said there were more disadvantages to concealed handguns, according to a Sept. 9 Ball State news release.
The study also reported that most students believe allowing concealed weapons would increase the rate of suicides and homicides on their campus, according to the release.
The study did not reveal which colleges were surveyed.
“The issue of allowing people to carry concealed weapons at universities and colleges around the U.S. has been raised several times in recent years,” Khubchandani said in the news release. “This is in spite of the fact that almost four of every five students are not in favor of allowing guns on campus.”
This year, Arkansas enacted a law that gives colleges the choice to decide whether to have concealed-carry on their campus, according to a June 24 Huffington Post article. Other lawmakers have attempted to introduce laws allowing students to carry arms on campus but failed. Nineteen state legislatures this year alone have introduced bills to allow concealed carry in some way, according to a Sept. 12 Huffington Post article.
Seven states in total currently allow concealed weapons on college campuses: Colorado; Utah; Wisconsin; Mississippi; Oregon; Kansas; and Arkansas, according armedcampuses.org
Many colleges in Arkansas have banned concealed-carry on their campuses. The state law requires these universities to revisit their policies every year if they decide to prohibit concealed carry, according to a June 24 Huffington Post article.
