Guns and colleges make formula for tragedy

[Francis Marion]

162. Fallacy number one:

Fallacy:
Police officers are excellent shots.

Truth: Bell curve- some are very good, most are just OK, some are abysmal. Just like gun owners in the general public.

To stake all hope upon the police showing up and blasting the person who needs to be shot, with one surgically placed bullet, is not only unlikely due to the 'just ok' skillset of the average responding officer, it's against training.

Officers, to protect themselves, empty one or more magazines at the suspect(s).

So the good Police Chief's chief concern, 'what if they miss?', is seldom heeded as we read news reports from all over the US where shot counts go into the dozens taking down a suspect.

The public can make sound judgement on when and how to use a gun, just as they do for fire extinguishers and defibrillators.

There is no reason to monopolize the duty of response to the Institutions of society alone. The People can, and should, mobilize to meet emergent threats to their immediate safety, and they should have the choice to access the tools necessary for that job. The same tools that police have chosen: a firearm.

Firearms are not the right tool for any conflict, but with respect to the issue here- whether or not college students can choose to carry firearms for self and community defense- they're more effective than #2 pencils, students' current defensive tool.

Colleges train students to defend against rape, to cope with stress, to study effectively; why not to protect themselves against an immediate threat to their life?

Why shouldn't education, choice, and the Bill of Rights resolve this issue?