Editor,
The recent bill that was passed in Texas has been a hot topic as of late. S.B. 11, also known as the campus carry law, is a new law that will allow anyone who possesses a concealed carry license to be able to carry a gun on campus. The law does however, give discretion to universities to allow them to tweak and create some restrictions.
As a university student who currently has two concealed handgun licenses for Arizona and New Mexico, I think it is absurd that I am not allowed to protect myself at school. I have gone through two FBI background checks that include mental health inspections and can carry my gun concealed in 40 states. I have gone through training classes and background checks to buy a gun. So why is it that I can carry my gun in almost any public venue throughout the country, but not in a school? Do we not have a right to protect ourselves at school? I carry my gun with me everywhere that the law allows it to be carried, and people are unable to tell that I am armed. I go through extensive training and background checks, but apparently the University would rather students not be able to protect themselves in an emergency. Now, I know some people are going to say that even if you had a gun, you’re more likely to shoot an innocent person than the attacker. Let’s look at the statistics, currently in New Mexico there are 40,794 active concealed carry licenses. How often do you hear about someone with a conceal carry gun shooting an innocent person? I have yet to find an example of it. I believe that if a person is to go through all the training, background checks and fingerprinting to apply for a concealed carry permit then they have a constitutional right to protect themselves anywhere.
Zachary Cooper
UNM student
