WTF, Utah?
As you all know my husband teaches at the University of Utah and he tipped me off to this article in the Salt Lake Tribune. The bill that just passed the legislative committee and is moving to the House says that those with concealed weapon permits may "openly carry" their weapons on any publicly owned property. Yes, folks, it includes the U where my husband is employed and where he regularly pisses off students.
Being able to carry a concealed weapon is bad enough. Now you can openly intimidate without ever uttering a word. I can't believe I pay the salaries of the idiots who think it is okay to allow people to openly carry there weapons anywhere, much less in the classroom. Do we not learn from the gun related tragedies on college campuses across the nation? Is my husband now supposed to ask to see their permit when a student thrusts his holster forward as he disputes the grade he received? How would these politicians feel if I openly carried a weapon into the capital? WTF, Utah?
If you believe that carrying a gun causes shootings, maybe you shouldn't visit Texas.
Posted by TravelTexas on February 26, 2008 at 01:40 PM MST #
Hmm. Can I get a permit to carry a bottle of wine? I'm betting the answer is no...
Thanks for the warning TravelTexas - I'll be sure to stay the hell away from there too.
Posted by David Tong on February 26, 2008 at 01:50 PM MST #
Living in Australia, the USAnian gun culture has always amused and scared me. Now I've got another reason to not visit Utah.
Posted by James C. McPherson on February 26, 2008 at 02:55 PM MST #
"Do we not learn from the gun related tragedies on college campuses across the nation?"
What specifically were we supposed to learn from those tragedies that applies here? One possible lesson is that if there had been armed citizens present, the attackers *may* have been stopped sooner. It is absolutely certain that any existing laws preventing carrying of weapons did *not* prevent the attacks.
Posted by tom on February 26, 2008 at 04:14 PM MST #
Clarification: I'm not arguing for open carry on campuses. I don't think that is a good idea.
Posted by tom on February 26, 2008 at 04:22 PM MST #
Point of the statement is that people get angry and with a gun at their hip, what time does it allow them to ponder before taking impulsive action? You think that armed citizens would have stopped the attacks. What if these armed "citizens" become the attackers?
Posted by Pam on February 26, 2008 at 04:35 PM MST #
It's so unfortunate that our elected officials are so fiscally irresponsible. They're supposed to be guardians of what's right & just for the public majority, but turn out to be just the opposite.
Posted by madhatter on March 02, 2008 at 06:33 PM MST #