VOL. 52, ISSUE 10 | NOVEMBER 17 , 2010
Mace & Crown Student newspaper of Old Dominion University in Norfolk, Virginia, since 1930
www.maceandcrown.com
ODU College Republicans take safety into their own hands Christian Ernst News Editor
this campus and they can’t tell you you can’t,” said Spires to WAVY-10 news. The university has already released its opinion on the matter. Petition for concealed carry started, passing 2000 signatures “Like the vast majority of universities across the CommonSafety is always a concern at any university, but has recent- wealth and the country, Old Dominion University does not ly become a hot topic at Old Dominion University. The ODU permit firearms on campus. The university has a wide range College Republicans have started a petition to allow concealed of safety measures in place to provide an environment where carry of handguns on campus, which they feel will help safety members of our community are free to learn and grow,” said a concerns on campus. university spokesperson in a release to WAVY-10. The petition currently has 1,100 digital signatures and 1,000 Many flyers can be found around campus now as well, with hard copy signatures, according to ODU College Republicans information pertaining to the safety of concealed carry. Acpresident Chris D’Ambra. The goal is 5,000 signatures, accord- cording to the flyer, Concealed Carry Laws reduce mass public ing to WAVY-10 news. shootings. Also, criminals are less afraid of the cops then a po“The purpose of the petition is to bring awareness to the tential victim carrying a gun, according to the flyer. President and his administration of the safety concerns that the The flyers also outline the student body has. We are not safe at ODU and the President group’s position on the subcontinues to tell us that we are,” D’Ambra said. ject, saying they do not “By allowing concealed carry on campus there would be a want the university to turn form of concealed carry. The criminals would be far less likely into the “Wild West,” but risk committing crimes on campus if they knew that students they want criminals to unare properly protected,” said Tyler Spires, a member of the or- derstand that students are ganization. no longer standing for vicThe organization has made local news, including WAVY-10 timization. They feel that and local radio stations, with their message about the petition. students should be able “They can ban us from concealed carrying, but a regular to exercise their Secjoe blow like you can conceal carry anywhere you want on ond Amendment rights even on campus, according to the flyer. Many students have taken stances on the matter as well. “I think allowing concealed weapons on campus would open a doorway for potential danger to students and faculty,” said sophomore Alexa Broadnax. “It is a better crime deterrent,” said Andrew Valentine, a junior and member of the Navy ROTC Marine Corps option program. He also said that most people don’t realize that many people already carry knives and that, against some public opinion, many people will still conceal carry weapons including guns onto campus. “I think it’s a horrible idea, for people to carry around guns that will just create more crime,” said freshman Arya AminREPORTING.JOURNALISM.KU.EDU razavi. People signing the digital petition also had some words The ODU College Republicans have a goal of 5,000 signature about the idea. for their petition “Allowing students who go through the measures of applyby
ing for a concealed carry permit are not the people who commit gun crimes. It is those who won’t abide by the restrictions that we must protect ourselves against,” said Collin Skogstad, who commented on the petition website, along with signing the petition. “In high crime areas, people need to be able to defend themselves. Only guns can “level the playing field” between a larger male attacker and a smaller female student. Let them carry guns if they are old enough and have the training!” said someone who signed the digital petition anonymously.