In a perfect world, there would be no need for a defense against . . . anything. In a perfect world, there would be no need for a military. For that matter, in a perfect world, there'd be no need for that police station down the street. You'd never even so much as need help looking for a lost cat. It'd be perfect!
You may have noticed that this world isn't perfect yet.
But there is a reasonable bill making its way through the Legislature these still wintry days that would allow professors who have the requisite permits to carry concealed weapons on the job--that is, on campus. An earlier law passed a couple years back allowed just such a thing, but it also allowed the 33 public colleges and universities in Arkansas to opt out. Which they all proceeded to do.
Those of us who have always insisted on safer campuses were shaking our heads when that happened. No matter your view of guns on campus, or anywhere else for that matter, why on earth would a responsible body advertise that it had told its employees no, they can't carry, not here? It reminded us of those signs you sometimes see outside certain government buildings, schools and even private businesses: "No Gun Zone." Why not just ring the dinner bell for all the crazies looking for what the experts call a Soft Target?
Some of us would like to keep the nut jobs guessing about who's armed and where, rather than remove all doubt.
Which is what this House Bill 1077 would do. It removes the opt-out clause in the law, and every professor or employee of the university who has gone through the requisite training to get a concealed-carry permit would be allowed to pack heat on the job. The bill passed the House just this Monday, and it now goes to the state Senate. Here's hoping it passes there and the governor signs the thing into law.
Those running public elementary and secondary schools are trying to find ways to arm their teachers and staff these days. Because if what the cops call an Active Shooter shows up on campus, which happens, something should stand between the kids and the crazies besides a sign or two.
And if that something can't be a police officer, better it should be a teacher or professor who has been trained by the Arkansas State Police and entrusted with a permit to carry a weapon under his coat.
Yes, yes, in a perfect world, there'd be no need for guns on any campus any time. In such a world there'd be no need for colleges, universities, high schools and elementary schools to approve or disapprove their teachers' packing heat.
Somebody let us know when that world arrives.
Editorial on 03/06/2015