I am writing today about the Ohio House Bill 91, which the Ohio University Student Senate opposes as stated in the May 19th edition (Senate opposes concealed guns). Although I do not agree with the senate's position that allowing weapons on campus will make the school more dangerous, the body does bring up a few interesting points about students who are disliking of firearms having to live with people who have potential weapons.
If Bill 91 does go into law, I think the university should have at least one or two residence halls open to students who are over the legal age and are allowed to own a firearm, giving students the option to live or not to live with people who own firearms. I know in my case it was frustrating not being able to house my firearms in my residence hall, having to find a friend off campus willing to keep them for me. I trust my friends, but I feel much safer keeping the firearm with me.
For the problem of alcohol and guns, keep dorms that allow weapons substance free. Alert the Ohio University Police Department, RAs and RDs as to which room's firearms will be housed, have the students sign a contract that they will keep the firearms unloaded, trigger guards on, the action open, and that the ammo will be stored away from the firearm any time the firearm is in the halls and that any violation of university policy will result in a removal of firearm privileges, removal from OU and/or criminal prosecution.
Most people with firearms, and especially those who have concealed-carry permits, are some of the most law-abiding people in the state. There are training, background checks and numerous other steps one has to go through to obtain a permit, and with over 50,000 Ohioans obtaining a permit in the first year alone, it is not going away. So, a compromise should be reached that will make both sides of the bill happy.
-Chip Markovich is a senior geology major. Send him an e-mail at cm242999@ohiou.edu.
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Letter to the Editor
