In light of the shootings at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University (NIU), students across the nation have assembled in support of policies for concealed carry of guns on college campuses.
The group known as Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC) has garnered more than 18,000 members, becoming the largest non-profit student organization advocating the right to carry concealed guns for safety and security reasons.
Some Washington University students, like College Libertarians President Mitchell Port, identify with SCCC's goals. Port sees support for concealed carry in the Second Amendment.
"The right to bear arms is a fundamental right, and being able to protect yourself is extremely important," said Port.
The state of Missouri grants concealed carry licenses, but the University prohibits carrying firearms on its campus, except in the case of licensed police officers of the Washington University Police Department.
"Basically, as a private university, [the University] can set its own rules," said Port. "We think it would be better, and we encourage [the administration] to consider concealed carry."
According to a description on SCCC's Facebook page, students comprise 90 percent of SCCC's membership while parents, faculty and others make up the remaining 10 percent.
"When we started, it was pretty much just a group on Facebook to get like-minded individuals together. Since then, we've had a nationwide protest, with the second one being planned for [this coming] April," said Stephen Feltoon, Midwest regional director for the group and a graduate of Miami University in Ohio.
According to Feltoon, 36 states grant concealed carry licenses to those "qualified. " To qualify, the license carrier must meet several requirements including age, criminal history and freedom from drug addiction. Many of the states also have a method checking mental health databases.
Despite the large number of states providing licenses for concealed carry, few colleges in those states permit licensees to do so on campuses. "The rules vary by state. In Virginia, [concealed carry] is legal. Virginia law says that each individual university can create their own policy. Most prohibit firearms," said Feltoon.
SCCC said it would like to see that changed. The group advocates the right of anyone with a valid license to carry a concealed handgun on any college campus in a state that permits concealed carry in public.
"Right now, we're trying to work with state legislators that support favorable legislation," said Feltoon.
Port does not however, believe the University would ever support sanctioning concealed carry at the University due to the administration and the student population.
"If they tried or did enact it, there would be a large outcry against it. Even if it had gotten past the administration, the student response to it would make it have to change and go back to not allowing it at all," he said.
The College Libertarians plan to host an informational event for students to learn more about the arguments behind reduced gun control.
"Wash. U. is primarily a liberal school. Students don't hear the other side of the issue," said Port. "A lot of the statistics that I've looked at have shown that it is actually safer when people do have the ability to carry weapons. A lot of times people who do have guns are able to stop crimes or protect themselves."
Samuel Fuqua, a sophomore at NIU and the provisional campus leader for SCCC, agrees with Port's position.
"Statistically, more guns haven't meant more violence," he said. "The idea is that if we allow students to protect themselves on campus, there will be lower crime rate on campus, because concealed carry states have lowered crime rates."
Fuqua doubts that gun control changes will be made on the NIU campus anytime soon since the state of Illinois prohibits concealed carry. However, he believes many students at NIU are beginning to support the possibility.
"From what I've heard, it's been very pro concealed carry. I haven't talked to everyone about it, but it seemed like there are a lot of people who would like to see concealed carry on campus," he said.
Currently, 13 states are considering legislation that would permit concealed carry on college campuses.
