A columnist with the Northern Star recently published a piece titled “Allowing guns on campus makes no sense.”

The story was about proposals in nine other states, to permit persons with conceal carry permits to carry on college campuses.

Although I have no doubt that Logan Short is advocating what he believes to be in the best interest of public safety, I must disagree with him.

In my view, contrary to what the author says, his argument, is actually the flawed one. It seems obvious that if someone commits a criminal act with a gun, it is far better if there is a possibility of having a good guy be able to intervene or fight back.

Further, most people would generally accept the idea that if guns exist, the only people who are going to obey society’s rules when it comes to “gun-free zones” are the people who do not intend to do harm.

Anyone bent on committing a felonious act of murder or even mass murder is not going to care whether there is a prohibition against having a gun on a

college campus.

The only people who will care about such prohibitions are people who are law abiding.

The sad reality of this situation is that it makes people

defenseless.

As far as intoxicated people carrying weapons, well, that is a valid concern. There are certainly those on college campuses who enjoy drinking. It is only common sense that people who are intoxicated or drinking at all should not possess guns while in such a state.

What the Northern Star failed to address is whether there are any states without prohibitions against intoxication or drinking by individuals carrying concealed weapons.

Everything I’ve ever read on the topic has suggested that people in states with concealed carry permits are generally prohibited from drinking.

This is not something that Illinois need worry about for a while though, as we are only one of two states with no conceal carry law on the books.

It is my hope that this is something that changes.

Joseph Lotta

Senior, psychology major