Carrying does more harm than good

While carrying guns for self-defense  may make one feel safe, it is also important to consider the responsibility that comes with carrying a lethal weapon. The TU alerts and headlines reporting shootings off-campus have become

Screen shot 2011-09-27 at 12.53.32 AMWhile carrying guns for self-defense  may make one feel safe, it is also important to consider the responsibility that comes with carrying a lethal weapon.

The TU alerts and headlines reporting shootings off-campus have become all too familiar since I enrolled at Temple, but when I heard that a student shot back in retaliation, I was shocked and even more so, disturbed. The last thing we need is violence on top of violence, and carrying weapons is not the solution for a safer atmosphere.

On Sept. 5 around 2 a.m., a 15-year-old juvenile shot 21-year-old sophomore Robert Eells. The youth attempted to flee, but Eells, who was armed, shot the juvenile in the back, landing both parties in the hospital. Leading up to the shootings, the youth and one other teenager had attempted to rob Eells, who did not comply with their demands.

Eells, a student from Chalfont, Pa. holds a license to carry. While Temple’s policy restricts any student, even those with a license, from carrying firearms on campus, under Pennsylvania law, those 21 and over can qualify for a concealed carry permit.

This incident led me to wonder how many more students make the decision to carry weapons and not just guns. What’s really going to stop someone from bringing their weapon on campus? After all, aren’t these students carrying in order to feel protected when walking from classes or activities to their off-campus residencies? That doesn’t make me feel protected.

Dr. Jennifer Wood, associate professor in the department of criminal justice, said that guns only add to the problem and that the answer to safety may lie in Temple’s environmental approach.

“[Carrying guns] is obviously not a solution at all,” Wood said. “If anything it contributes to a climate of fear.”

Wood applauded Temple’s efforts in creating a safe environment on Main Campus. Improving lighting, increasing security and promoting awareness on how to navigate safely through campus, Wood said, are some of their successes.

Now, Wood said, that type of innovative thinking should be extended off-campus.

Wood’s suggestions are precisely what we need. Students may argue that weapons are the best self defense measure, but the most basic safety tips we were all taught are being ignored, and they’re a lot easier and less stressful, than carrying a gun.

Students should not be wandering alone at night. As obvious as that sounds, the majority of us do it and many do it while intoxicated. Setting up security systems and carrying pepper spray are two other preventive measures. But on top of the obvious safety guidelines, students who live off-campus should be forming good relationships with their neighbors–the people who have been calling North Philadelphia their home for quite some time.

My neighbors are outside of their home the majority of the day and night. They know me and my roommates by name because we make an effort to talk to them. I see too many students walk by their neighbors with their heads down, ignoring hellos and rushing to class. They’re missing out on getting to know the people who can ultimately protect them.

Wood said “socially vibrant” communities where people feel connected to one another depend on each other and come together during times of crisis, which can help build a safer environment.

“Advocating carrying guns,” Wood said, “[will] send the message that we can’t rely on each other, that we can’t think in different ways about how to create communities that have a strong social vibe, communities that are safe, communities where people can feel that they can sit on their porch and walk the streets.”

Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe improving our relationships with community members won’t solve anything. But I would rather try all my alternatives and put a little faith in my neighborhood before I resort to carrying a lethal weapon. Knowing I possessed the ability to hurt or even kill another individual wouldn’t make me feel any safer.

Cary Carr can be reached at cary.carr@temple.edu.

 

99 Comments

  1. Oh jesus h christ, another wet behind the ears college student, clueless on the facts, much less reality and your inexperienced and uneducated opinion means what in the world of reality? Not one cotton pickin thing.

    The U.S. Dept of Education, the FBI and the U.S. Secret Service recently released an extensive research report (“Campus Attacks – Targeted Violence Affecting Institutions of Higher Learning”) that indicated the incidents of college campus violence had drastically increased in the past 20 years.
    http://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/campus-attacks/campus-attacks-pdf/view
    What is the risk being near a person carrying concealed.

    We see US Census 2008 18.4 mil students, 42% 21 or older, 4,300 schools.

    186 mil / 4,300 schools = 4,276 avg. students per school

    US Census 186 mil 21 or older, 8 mil cpl licensee’s BATF 8 mil / 186 mil = 4.3% of population has cpl license.

    18.4 mil x 42% = 7.728 mil x 4.3% = 332,304 / 4,300 schools = 77.28 avg. per school.

    77.28 / 4, 276 = 1.8% chance of being around a student who is carrying concealed. Oh wow, that is so scary and so dangerous.

    Based on your unsubstantiated fear, we should see thousands, uh no, hundreds, uh no, even tens of police reports showing you college students are identifying and assisting police in catching people who are carrying concealed today? Nope, you people can’t even see the criminals carrying concealed today, yet you are more afraid of law abiding citizens than criminals. Speaks volumes of your mental immaturity.

    ATF Max 8 million CPL’s US, approximately 186 million age 21 or older or 4.3% of the people licensed for CPL.

    Possible deaths from CPL holders in 3 year time span from Violence Policy Center report last year, 137 or 45 per year equals .00000562 per concealed license holder. You can also review Florida’s data on CCW at http://licgweb.doacs.state.fl.us/stats/cw_monthly.html it says the same thing.

    JAMA http://jama.ama-assn.org/cgi/content/full/286/4/415 700,000 doctors in US kill 44,000 to 98,000 by medical malpractice every year or .14 per physician.

    Physician is .065 or .14 /.00000562 = 12,000 to 25,000 times more likely to harm you than a CPL holder.

    So where is the risk from concealed carry holders and why aren’t you antis crying to ban doctors?

    Lets review the following 10 mass shootings, and note what the body counts were where resistance occurred versus no resistance.

    October 16, 1991, Luby’s Cafeteria, Killeen, TX, “Gun-Free”: 1 gunman, 23 murdered, 20 injured.
    April 20, 1999, Columbine, “Gun-Free”: 2 gunmen, 13 murdered, 24 injured. Many were murdered AFTER the police were “on scene”.
    April 16, 2007, Virginia Tech, “Gun-Free”: 1 gunman, 32 murdered, 25 injured. Most were murdered AFTER the police were “on scene”.
    Feb 14,2008 Northern Illinois University, 1 gunman, 5 dead, 18 injured, gunman kills self long before police arrive to engage.
    Nov 5 ,2009 Ft Hood Texas, 1 gunman, 13 dead, 30 wounded. Military personnel on base are BANNED from having a weapon, but the shooter did, and it was almost 9 minutes before police responded

    Gun Free Zone 5 incidents

    Defenseless victims murdered: 86
    Defenseless victims injured: 117

    December 17, 1991 Shoney’s Family Restaurant, Anniston, AL: 3 gunmen, 20 hostages, one ARMED customer (Thomas Glenn Terry). Police finally arrived to find one dead robber, one wounded robber and the third had fled when the shooting started. NO INJURED INNOCENTS.
    October 1, 1997, Pearl High School: 1 gunman, 2 murdered, 7 injured: Stopped by ARMED vice principal.
    January 16, 2002, Virginia Appalachian School of Law: 1 gunman, 3 murdered, 3 injured. Killer was stopped when confronted by two ARMED students.
    Dec 9 2007, Colorado Springs, New Life Church, 1 gunman 2 murdered, 3 injured, gunman stopped when armed woman shoots gunman, who then turns gun on self and commits suicide, while 100 other church members are in church.
    May 4th, College Station Georgia 2 gunman, 10 victims, 1 dead gunman, 1 victim wounded. The 2 thugs robbing a party begin discussing if they have enough bullets to do the job. One man retrieves his firearm, kills one thug, chases the other off.

    Where murderers encountered ARMED resistance 5 incidents

    murdered: 7
    Where murderers encountered ARMED resistance; injured: 14

    Wow, where no resistance occurred 9 plus times higher body count.

    Yep, a higher body count is morally superior to a lower body count based on your reference professors beliefs. Actually, your professor apparently believes a woman raped and strangled with her own panty hose is a morally superior result than a dead attacker!

    Guess the intended victims deserved to be shot and the bad guy have superior rights too eh einstein?

    You are well intended, but putting unsubstantiated beliefs and no thought into a public comment like yours gets any kind of response deemed appropriate, especially as there is no constitutionally protected right to no criticism of unsubstantiated opinions like yours little girl. Please do the world a favor, grow up as frankly, we dont care what you feel, only what you can prove which in your unrequested opine is not one single thing!

  2. As a college student one would think you learned to speak grammatically correct. Me and my friends is incorrect…my friends and I is correct. Word up…

  3. Cary,

    It is unfortunate you do not believe in the right to self defense and the injustice you see here is caused by an innocent victim. Robert Ells was the victim, not the perpetrator. He was an honest law abiding citizen going about his right to persue life and liberty. Unfortunately if you had your way in this country, Robert would be a criminal, as he didn’t stand there and get shot by a 15 year old criminal.
    The crime here is the society in which a 15 year old feels desperate enough to rob someone. The crime is that a 15 year old can get a gun. The crime is that the 15 year old robber had no decent parental supervision. Attack the criminals and problem, leave the victims alone please, they have been through enough already.
    Obviously I advocate carrying a firearm for self defense. I advocate victims rights, not the criminals. I advocate being supportive of victims who have been shot while being robbed, not attacking them. I firmly believe I advocate common sense. The story here is the criminal, the breakdown of society, and the breakdown of the criminal justice system in America. The story is not the victim, he has been through enough, waling home shouldn’t be something that deserves being robbed and shot for doing.

  4. That makes perfect sense; disarm ourselves, hide from reality, make friends with people who are also disarmed, and rely on a police force that is always far enough away that they would be virtually ineffective in a situation where seconds meant the difference between life and death. Man, I’ve been doing things all wrong.

  5. Once again, the opponents of armed personal self-defense ignore reality. 49 states allow concealed carry. Some even allow concealed carry on college campuses. They have for years.

    Experience shows that permit holders nationwide are FAR less likely to commit any kind of crime, let alone violent crime, than the general public.

    Where’s the problem? Please, please, please direct me to some solid data that supports your “carrying does more harm than good” theme.

    I’m sorry but personal opinions do not trump actual, real life experience.

  6. As a PA resident I am embarrassed to read this about temple. I know Philly is a third world country so to speak but when I read, “Students should not be wandering alone at night.” I ask, why not? Why as free men/women should we not have the right to “wander alone at night”. Oh, It’s because CRIMINALS find easy pray and get whatever they want. Well I’m personally glad that 21yr old student defended himself. What would have happened had he not had a gun? He gets shot still and the bad guys get away.. Maybe next time the “home boys” won’t try to rob a student at Temple.

    /rant

  7. More theoretical utopia. Ms Carr, I’m sorry you don’t like firearms and believe the theories pontificated. Reality/History says your dream is just that, a dream/fantasy.

    Unfortunately, reality occurred and Mr. Eelles was the victim. What would have pepper spray done? Probably zero. Mr. Eelles decided to defend himself; he didn’t sit back waiting for the authorities to show up and ‘protect’ him. Mr. Eelles is still alive because of what he did. Where would he be if he didn’t?

    I would like to see the data that Dr Wood used to draw her conclusions. This again, sounds like a theoretical opinion.

  8. Bravo Cary, I agree that awareness is the the best self defense. I offer a free safety awareness series on my website because I firmly believe that knowledge is power and everyone should have this knowledge. Please go and get this info, there is no obligation to ever buy anything. I also believe that carrying pepper spray is a good moral alternative to a gun but that’s a personal issue.
    @Ceefour, your English professor must be very disappointed.

  9. “Carrying does more harm than good”

    Are you able to provide evidence that this is a true statement? Or is this just how you “feel”?

    Which is more important – the right to protect oneself or your desire to “feel” protected?

    Concealed carry is allowed on a few college campuses. Are they having problems with students who carry? Did you research the issue at all?

  10. You have it wrong from the beginning. Your first sentence is incorrect. “While carrying guns for self-defense may make one feel safe, it is also important to consider the responsibility that comes with carrying a lethal weapon.” Legally carrying a weapon does not make one feel safe. Statistically, states, cities, municipalities that allow carrying a weapon openly or concealed with or without a permit are safer than places that do not allow it.

  11. “They’re missing out on getting to know the people who can ultimately protect them.”

    And how, Ms Carr, are these neighbors going to protect them (you) from an armed robber/rapist if they are defenseless as well? What if your neighbor had a concealed carry license and used that legal firearm to save your life?

  12. Please read “More Guns Less Crime” by Dr. John Lott. How you “feel” is irrelevant. Facts matter. The Temple student was not robbed and shot because he was armed, but his life and others may have been saved because he was.

  13. @Ceefour: “They know me and my roommates by name…” To see whether ‘me’ or ‘I’ is correct, drop the roommates: “They know me by name…” vs “They know I by name…”. We’re all disappointed you would choose the latter.

    @CaryCarr: “What are the facts? Again and again — what are the facts? Shun wishful thinking, ignore divine revelation, forget what ‘the stars foretell’, avoid opinion, care not what the neighbors think, never mind the unguessable ‘verdict of history’ — what are the facts, and to how many decimal places? You pilot always into an unknown future; facts are your single clue.” -Robert Heinlein

    Dear lady, you haven’t read enough Heinlein.

  14. Yes, let’s ban guns. And lets also ban cars. So far cars kill more innocent (read non-law breaking citizens) people per year than every licensed CHL holder. Stupid cars. They should ban cars on campus too.

    Cary, you know what else should be banned? Shoddy, uninformed journalism. It’s good to know that if any paper needs a vapid writer who is just trying to push their agenda that they can easily hire Cary Carr.

  15. You say what’s to stop someone who legally gets their CWP from carrying on campus? How about they went the LEGAL way to get their CWP, they can LEGALLY carry, they have obviously done what the LAW says… Why do you think they are suddenly going to just break all laws and shoot everyone? People that carry know the legal and moral obligation they have decided to carry. Responsible people who carry know the law, know their weapon, and know *if it’s a firearm* what is beyond their target. And all people who have a CWP I know hope they never ever have to use it.

    Bad guys break laws, not law abiding citizens who have the right to protect themselves. If nobody was allowed to protect themselves then the bad guys would have free reign to do whatever they wanted.

    Just for your own information… Cops don’t protect you, they come and take a report and look for the perp after the fact. If you are even able to call them. Think about that.

  16. Miss Carr,

    With all due respect, the majority of this opinion piece is nonsense and wishful thinking. I will agree that better lighting, traveling in groups and getting to know your neighbors are all good ideas.

    I disagree that “violence on top of violence” is a bad idea. Do some actual research. Armed citizens successfully prevent violent crimes every day. Which cites are safest in the nation? I’ll give you a hint, Chicago and Washington D.C. are nowhere on the list, despite their draconian anti-gun laws.

    You make the basic mistake Miss Carr of confusing feeling safe, with being safe. No “feel good” anti-gun legislation actually makes you any safer. Again, I refer you to Chicago. They combine the harshest anti-gun laws in the nation with one of the worst violent crime rates.

    Nothing will make you 100% safe. There are factors such as situational awareness, common sense and yes lighting and groups that can make you safer, but not safe. Being armed is on this list.

    Lastly, Miss Carr I would suggest that you do not take what anyone tells you at face value. Not what you read here and not what this Dr. Wood tells you. Do some research on your own. Discover for yourself the lack of effectiveness of anti-gun laws. Do some research and you might discover how many honest citizens are saved from harm every day becuase they decided to take personal responsibility for their own safety. Do some research and decide for yourself.

    Good luck to you

  17. This is the second totally incorrect article from a college student I’ve seen in the past two weeks. Facts do not support your “feelings”. Us “law abiding” citizens who carry, do so to protect ourselves and our families from “criminals”, and yes, if you were in dire straights I’d probably protect you as well, full knowing that you’d be completely thankless. Cary, did you notice what I put in quotes above? BIG DIFFERENCE, CRIMINALS break the law, period. One thing to note, now the bad guys know that Temple isn’t going to be a slam dunk playground as there are students who won’t go like sheep…

    Mr. Eells was able to do more harm to his youthful attackers who were armed and probably saved his own life. Nothing against the Police but they weren’t there to help and neither was your Utopian community. Why don’t you take up a cause against something you’ve researched and are knowledgeable in. You REALLY don’t have to drink the cool-aid that your liberal educators give you. Think for yourself sometime, it’s a great feeling.

  18. Hey Cary?

    If anyone ever tries to rape you, don’t fight it. That would be “violent”. Just lay back and enjoy it.

    And if they want to beat you, strangle you, cut you up into little pieces, well, at least you won’t add “violence on top of violence” if you just let them do it.

    Think of all the ways someone might abuse, injure, torture or kill you. Now solemnly vow that when confronted by the reality of one or a combination of those things happening to you, you don’t want anyone to intervene, and you yourself will not resist.

    Personally, I think Eells did a public service. The only unfortunate aspects of the incident are that Eells was wounded and the perpetrator wasn’t killed.

  19. Living such a sheltered life as this author is patheticaly poor experience to infer that her opinion means anything in the grand scheme of reality.

    Some people are just bad, they prefer to be bad, and they just are not going to change because you play nice with them. Those people only stop when faced with superior force, and since the police are under no legal liability to protect the individual citizen, nor have the police managed to solve more than 8.75% of all violent crimes committed on a annual basis, maybe you can explain just how that will happen? Especially as every place a gun ban occurs, ammazingly violence escalates.

    This is not science fiction, the criminals are not the mythical Star Trek alien the Borg who quote “Resistance is futile”, they are not infallible and they miss, as much if not more than the experts, the police.

    Now how about posting some of those facts you have censored today already sweety or is it just good old progessives that have a right to publish facts you can’t refute?

  20. Wow, Cary, you really have no clue, do you?

    So you’d rather people be helpless victims?

    You’d rather be the next target of a 15 yr old thug? And when he attacks you, you’ll just say “oh please don’t”, and I’m sure it’ll work… because after all, the thug just never heard love from his mother before, and the word “please” will cut right to his heart and he’ll turn from his evil ways.

    Get a grip. And stop spreading your idiotic garbage opinions.

  21. Ms. Carr,

    I will leave you with just one note:

    “Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.”
    – Benjamin Franklin

  22. Cary,

    Carrying a concealed weapon doesn’t make me feel safer at all. It does however, give me a small piece of mind, that if I am attacked, by the criminal elements, that I have a chance to live to see my family another day.

    I’d love for you to pickup a copy of the “Rifleman,” yes a firearms magazine, and read the stories of people who saved themselves or others by having a firearm at hand. People who decide to arm themselves legally, are truly scared to use their firearms due to the litigious society that we live in now-days. We are not the criminals, we are the law abiding citizens that elect to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

    I would love to see you put your effort into getting 15 year old (young) criminals off of the streets, especially at 2:00 AM. Did this fact not bother you? Are you truly more concerned that people protect themselves legally?

  23. Cary, when you experience a real need for help. Don’t call the police. They might use their evil handguns against an armed perpetrator that might be attempting to rape you or cause severe bodily harm to you. When the perp is done with you, you can thank him and counsel him. Heck he might even agree to give you his weapon. After you receive it, would you feel victorious? Would your experience be one that you feel others should have? Would the rape be worth it? After all you managed to possibly disarm him. Heck your local PD could use you as a free ‘rape” to get guns off the street.
    Criminals could come by, beat you to a pulp and rape you to their hearts content. You’d be doing a civic duty getting all those “evil” weapons. But there would be criminals roaming the street looking for their next victims. How would that make you feel? Would you have really accomplished something?
    How about instead we enforce the law to punish the criminals using weapons to commit a crime. More liberal heads would spin, due to the violation of the criminals “rights”. What about the real victims. Should they not be able to meet force with force? Why should they be sheep for the wolves to do as they please?
    In reality, your view is clouded by the fairy tale you live in. There are many bad people in this world that are incorrigible. There have been many lives saved by people who carry licensed weapons. The Police can’t be everywhere. They are there for public safety. Most of their job is spent reporting the after effects of a crime. Would you want a concealed license holder to stand by and do nothing if you or a member of your family was being attacked? The Concealed license holder does not have to help you either. His license was obtained for his/her own protection. Would you feel anger if you found out that maybe they could have helped you? Of course you would. It is not just a matter of trying to talk a criminal out of his act. His mindset is showing otherwise. He does not have to be shot. The mere presence of a firearm may cause them to flee or give up. If it saves a life or is used in protection of another I’m for it. Please re-evaluate your thinking. You seem to have a good heart. Use the grey matter upstairs and realize the society around you does not have your heart. Be vigilant. Crime does not sleep.

  24. Cara,

    You asked the question:

    “What’s really going to stop someone from bringing their weapon on campus?”

    What’s to prevent a criminal intent upon violent crime for doing so?

    Followed by:
    “After all, aren’t these students carrying in order to feel protected when walking from classes or activities to their off-campus residencies? That doesn’t make me feel protected.”

    How you feel does not matter. Rights are not subject to your current “feelings”.

    The Pennsylvania Commonwealth has ruled that the police no obligation to protect citizens. See Johnson v. City of Philadelphia, 657 A.2d 87, 89 (Pa. Commonw. Ct. 1995)

    Furthermore, PA statutes make Commonwealth and local governments immune from liability for negligence except where the legislature has provided otherwise.

    I think you really need to consider how the law actually operates rather than your “feelings” with regard to the carrying of weapons.

  25. I carry a gun in my pocket because I cannot fit a policeman in there. A cop will not be there for me when I need him most; my gun always will. The only safety I use is the one in between my ears.

  26. Carry: Make u a bet, sweetheart… Bet u I give u pistol to carry for just 2 months… u’ll FIGHT me to give it back! …just 2 mos.

    Take the bet? email me! Stay tuned Readers…

    THEN u’ll have learned a new word to add to ur vocabulary: ‘hypocrite’!

    : )

  27. “…shot back in retaliation”? Try self defense.

    “After all, aren’t these students carrying in order to feel protected when walking from classes or activities to their off-campus residencies?” Maybe they are carrying because it’s their constitutional right.

    “[Carrying guns] is obviously not a solution at all,” Wood said. “If anything it contributes to a climate of fear.” Might change her mind if she, or a loved one, is the guest of honor at an armed robbery (or worse).

    “…but the most basic safety tips we were all taught are being ignored…” How do you know? Based on what data?

    “Setting up security systems and carrying pepper spray are two other preventive measures…” Neither are “preventive”. They only come into play when a bad actor has selected you as guest of honor. Security system? Can’t wear it and will only ensure that somebody arrives well after the main event to clean up the mess. Pepper spray? Wouldn’t bet my life on it.

    “Advocating carrying guns,” Wood said, “[will] send the message that we can’t rely on each other…” Actually, the opposite could not be more true. If I, heaven forbid, came upon a bad scene involving you — you may absolutely rely on me to help you. And, you will be thankful I was carrying the proper tools for the job.

    “Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe improving our relationships with community members won’t solve anything.” Yes, you’re wrong. It’s not the folks that are contributing to the strong social vibe while sitting on their porches that are causing the problem. But, maybe I’m wrong. Take a shot at improving your relationship with the community members that are robbing folks at gun point. Please, let us know how it goes.

    How would your and Ms. Wood’s steps to create a “vibrant” and “safe” community have changed anything that happened to Eells? And, why not one word with regard to how to handle criminals that perpetrate these crimes and prey on others?

    In all seriousness, this was written with the best of intent and out of concern for you and many others that haven’t been on this earth as long as most of the rest of us, and lack some of the hard experience we’ve gained. Do your research, think for yourself, interview people who have experienced the things you choose to write about. Make your today decisions based upon facts, not somebody else’s view of how things could be.

  28. By the way, you should check your “facts”. Eells was sitting on his own front porch, which you did not mention. You also said that the 15 year old “attempted to flee”. Haven’t seen that account/version anywhere other than in The Temple News.

    Following is what’s reported by ABC, CBS, NBC, others…

    Robert Eells, 21, was smoking a cigarette with a roommate outside their rowhome on the 2300 block of North 12th Street in the city about 1:53 a.m. when three males approached, police said. One of the males, 15-year-old Rafiq Thompson of Philadelphia, pulled a gun and demanded money, according to police.

    But Eells was no easy mark. He refused to hand over money and the teenager started firing. Eells was hit in the stomach, but returned fire with his own handgun, striking the teen in the leg and torso, according to police.

  29. Carry
    I see your a student of the Brady bunch! Typical Liberal /Progressive you “Feel” instead of actually look for facts! You really need to get out of the “College life” snd see where real people live and work and what happens in the real world. There are bad people who will do you harm just for the sneakers on your feet, the few dollars you have in your wallet/purse. And because your a woman they just might want to hurt you for their perverse pleasures! Americans have a “God given right”- I know I used God- to own /posses and yes CARRY a firearm to protect themselves!
    If you don’t like firearms or will not carry one for your protection thats your chioce- you don’t have the right to tell everyone else they can’t!

  30. All these opinion pieces are giving us college students a bad name.

    I’m a college student and a concealed carry permit holder and I (and thousands of others just like me) can safely say that carrying a firearm has never done me any harm at all.

    Gun control is the belief that a 90lb. girl has the right to fistfight with a 210lb. rapist.

  31. FRIENDS FRIENDS FRIENDS, you are all feeding into Cary and her ploy to get her “writing” and “journalism” noticed by trying to get some negative attention, if you read this article from the same forum only a week ago, http://temple-news.com/2011/09/20/collegiate-carrying/ you will see that it is is pretty much an exact copy of the article that Cary wrote.

    So what are we to believe?

    1. Cary did not bother reading this article published only a week before which garnered a lot of attention by getting 73 comments whereas most articles on here are lucky to get even 2 comments?

    2. Cary is a lazy journalist and seeing how popular the previous article was she decided to write a copycat article which is almost thought for thought in an effort to either A. Get some attention to her writing and further her journalistic career or B. A sick and twisted effort to get attention in general, as she saw that all 73 commenters on the previous article were all riled up and against the piece.

    I tend to believe the latter #2, so please please please stop giving Cary attention and watch how she quickly deletes this comment, as soon as you do I will just copy and paste it again from my Notepad.

    Cary time to be original!

  32. “Carrying does more harm than good”

    I’m suprised temple news would allow such crap to be posted on their website. Your opinion sholud include some facts.

  33. Ms. Carr you are the typical liberal student that universities are brainwashing these days. I feel sorry for you but am glad that so many people commenting on this article are wise and informed enough to know how valuble and necessary our second ammendment and right to carry firearms is to our country.

  34. You are a moron, and you would do the rest of us a huge favor if you would go live in California with all the other liberal whack jobs.

  35. C’mon, lady. Seriously? If you want to be a journalist you need to put some more time and effort into your fact-finding. If someone came at you with a weapon you’d be damn happy to have the means to protect yourself. Sayin. Peace out.

  36. 38 comments so far, this is Miss Cary “negative attention is better than no attention” Carr’s wet dream. That is 38 more comments so far than any of her “articles” have ever garnered, just ignore her you are giving her exactly what she wants and that is PUBLICITY. She is desperate so she is coming from the school all “All publicity is good publicity” even if I have to rip off a previous article written only a week ago and even if it is filled with unsubstantiated lies and things that do not make sense.

    To prove my point: As a previous commenter wrote in the article that Cary blatantly ripped off,

    “Even the 2 best-known promoters of nonviolence in history were not opposed to guns. Specifically, Mahatma Gandhi wrote in his book, An Autobiography (page 446):

    “Among the many misdeeds of the British rule in India, history will look upon the Act depriving a whole nation of arms, as the blackest … if we want to learn the use of arms, here is a golden opportunity.”

    And as quoted in the Seattle Times, May 15, 2001, the Dalai Lama said:
    “If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun.”

  37. Correction to my last comment: Cary actually managed to get 5 responses to this previous article, http://temple-news.com/2011/08/29/gay-marriage-at-a-standstill-in-pennsylvania/ the rest of her articles and commentaries got zero views and comments. Cary next time come up with something original please. If you are going to copycat an article to get attention at least steal it from a different publication and from a different time frame! How blonde can you be??

  38. You can talk about involving your neighbors in your safety all you want to, but ultimately, you are the person responsible for YOUR own safety, not your neighbors, and not the police.

    One point for Cary and all other women to consider is that a gun levels the playing field against a possible rapist, who will most likely be bigger and stronger. When he sees that gun in the hands of his possible victim, he will realize that his bigger size and greater strength don’t matter.

    I’m a middle aged male, and I am grateful to the Founding Fathers for affirming my right to own and carry firearms for my self-defense. Mr. Eells is probably glad he could rely on Mr. Smith and Wesson for his safety, and not you.

  39. Based upon the muffin-headed approach of this article, the title should read “Cary does more harm than good”.

    If an active shooter is in your vicinity, you MUST have the means to defend yourself immediately at hand.

    No exceptions.

    None.

  40. Just an observation…

    Number of times the word “feel” appears in this article: 6

    “Law” or “laws”: 1
    “Right” or “rights”: 0
    “Free” or “freedom”: 0
    “Stat” or “statistic”: 0
    “Data”: 0
    “Study”: 0
    “report”: 0

    I know this is an opinion piece, but if you want your opinion to carry any weight with your readers, or have any merit at all, you might consider forming an opinion based on something other than feelings.

  41. I completely disagree with the author of this article. I am a CC permit holder in the state of VA, and I support the people’s right for self-defense.

    This guy stood up for his rights, and more power to him. These small-time crooks will think twice about robbing campus students again. He did everyone a service, including you, Cari, whether you believe it or not.

    Improving lighting and raising awareness will not stop violent criminals, fighting back will.

  42. First I would like to start by saying that I do carry a handgun, and have for many years. I have training and knowledge of my weapon. However, I do agree that lethal force is not always the answer. I will say that even non-lethal weapons can cause bodily harm. For example, pepper spray can cause blindness if sprayed too close to the face, and if proper medical attention isn’t given right away, pepper spray can cause death through choking on mucus. I agree that people should know their responsibilities with whatever they choose to carry. Although this article is geared toward permit holders; What is stopping people who are carrying illegally? The reference in the article about the 15 yr old; Why is it okay for the 15 yr old to try to kill someone, but the issue is over the 21 yr old defending himself? I will agree that the Ellis should not have taken a shot after the 15 yr old began to run away. But who is to say that the 15 yr old wasn’t going to shoot again? Mistakes will happen. This is unfortunate. I feel that bringing awareness is a must, but being bias does not help solve the issue at hand. Remember, permit holders do know their rights. What about people who carry illegally? Who is stopping them? The answer is not Police Officers. I respect law enforcement a great deal, but they are usually called AFTER the incident occurs. So my question is, who prevents criminals from breaking the law? Our laws don’t. Police Officers can’t.

  43. Big angry rapist, I would be careful if I were you, Cary may flash you the peace sign or even worse she may blow on her whistle and an angry flash mob of good samaritans will come to her aid, oh wait nevermind this is Philly..we are good on flash mobs but not so good on good samaritans.

  44. Oh I forgot to include that permit holders who do break the law should be punished without contestation. There is no excuse for ignorance. I do not know the ratio, but I would suggest researching how many illegal weapon incidents and or arrests that made each year, versus legal carrying permit holder incidents. Perhaps the answer would give us that the problem lies with criminals, and not the permit holders. I will say that I respect what your trying to do Cary. I hope that you continue to write for peace and for noble causes. Don’t take people’s negative criticisms to heart. You should listen other people’s criticisms, and find support for backing up your argument. I wish you the best Cary!

  45. I guess if it were up to Miss Carr she would rather that this woman would have had people blowing whistles or trying to reason with the womans angry husband who was stabbing her within inches of her life, rather than her “angel” thinking quickly and saving her life thanks to his 9mm and his CCW. See: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soZT__WQKsM

  46. Big angry, you do that, and please wear gloves tomorrow night I hear it will be cold and if you leave prints behind and get caught, bleeding heart Cary will come visiting you every week and annoy you with care packages and she may want to make a documentary about you. Good thing you’re taking Bigger angry rapist with you, 2 heads are always better than one.

    P.s. I sharpened your knives for you and I bought you some shades, just incase your victim decides to spray you with her little pink spray.

  47. Virginia Tech was hailed as the leader in “Safe Atmosphere” campuses.. Fort Knox too had and has the same policy too.. News Flash: Criminals break laws

    I for one will not allow another person to begin a one sided negotiation on my life. You DO NOT and CAN NOT know another person’s intentions especially when you are thinking rationally and they are not (crime is not a rational action). With average response times of CODE1 calls to the police (i.e shots fired, assault in progress, etc..) being 5-7 minutes even in the best cities and counties I will continue to trust my life primarily to my own protection.

    The environmental factors listed here are good ideas, don’t get me wrong, they are because they help lower the chances of violent and life threatening encounters.. but there is no such thing as crime proof.. and there will always be people willing to cross all the normal boundaries of society to achieve whatever their twisted goal is.. And as for knowing your neighbors and the like, most attacks especially of home invasions come from people YOU KNOW. Now advertise the fact that you don’t like people being armed and never ever would carry or use a firearm or implement for self defense.. can anyone say Silver Platter?

  48. Last interesting factoids, Defensive encounters are difficult to track due to crimes almost or only partially happening, people not involving the police and or it not being reported all the way up for statistical data.. BUT

    In 2007 there where approximately 43,000 firearm deaths, 31,000 were suicide the remainder were homicide..

    The FBI estimates (again due to data the field is wide) that firearms are used defensively somewhere between 350,000 and 3,000,000 times each year with an additional estimate of 15-30% of those encounters resulting in death or serious harm should the firearm not have been used..

    So even with the wide variance the data covers, somewhere between 4 and 75 times as many people are still alive and well because of a firearm than are murdered with one..

    Violence is a poor solution, but sometimes it is the LAST one available

  49. This entire article contradicts itself throughout.

    “This incident led me to wonder how many more students make the decision to carry weapons and not just guns. What’s really going to stop someone from bringing their weapon on campus?” – Would you rather have a student or a criminal carrying? A criminal carries with intent to use and a student carries concealed so no, it doesn’t even contribute to a “climate of fear” as students are concerned. The deterrent, is a climate of fear for the perpetrator.

    That associate professor is an idiot. Has she ever bothered to talk to a criminal? Would they rather commit crimes in gun free zones or where someone might be armed? Take a second to think about that.

    “Students should not be wandering alone at night.” ? Sometimes you have to, and when you do would you rather do so unarmed?

    I also question how the neighbors can protect you? Are they going to throw rocks at perpetrators? Or are you just counting on them having guns to protect you? Wouldn’t that make you nervous?

    ‘“Advocating carrying guns,” Wood said, “[will] send the message that we can’t rely on each other’ – Actually its sending a message that, “You can rely on me.”

    “Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe improving our relationships with community members won’t solve anything.” On the contrary, it will solve a lot of things, the need for welfare will diminish as people will help each other in that manner in time of need. But no, the only difference knowing your neighbors makes is if your neighbors are armed.

    “I would rather try all my alternatives and put a little faith in my neighborhood before I resort to carrying a lethal weapon.” – And thats your right, but don’t impose your discomfort on the safety of others. That makes you (in my opinion) personally responsible for every attack that could have been fought off.

    “Knowing I possessed the ability to hurt or even kill another individual wouldn’t make me feel any safer.” – Its not supposed to make you feel safer. Its supposed to make your attacker feel less safe, and therefore less likely to attack you.

    In short, the author of this article suffers from “hoplophobia”, (an irrational fear of weapons). As a pretty blond the author should get over her fear, for her own safety. Either that or never go anywhere alone after dark. Is that what we’ve come to? Being scared into our homes because of perpetrators running loose unchallenged? If that is the case, then shame on all of us for lacking the back bone to stand up to evil. Yes, they and their actions are evil.

  50. Utterly disgusting. STOP CAMPAIGNING TO KEEP CRIMINALS SAFE BY MAKING THEIR MURDER, RAPE, AND MAIMING VICTIMS DEFENSELESS!

  51. This rhetoric just shows the liberal mentality. Ooh guns are bad. No try again, a gun is an inanimate object. I pulled my weapon out to defend not only myself, but my son as well. Didn’t even have to fire it, the attackers stopped dead in their tracks. Think before you advocate people just become sheep. A sheepdog can save a lot of lives.

  52. Obviously this was wrote without any real research. States that allow their people to carry loaded have far less crime rates than ones who dont . The fact that you would leave your fate in the hands of other people is truly ignorant , since public safety officers obviously do not do their jobs good enough . To justify a crime because people ” should not be walking alone in the dark ” is the stupidist shit i have ever heard ! So
    We are supposed to close ourselfs in our houses and live sheltered because there are criminals out there ? Your rant is as ignorant as anthony portantinos famous crap

  53. Let me understand. You know your neighbors. Is the guy next door a convicted felon, rapist? They live in houses & neighborhoods too. What would you do to help your neighbors if they were attacked, call 9-1-1? 15 minutes later the police show up. So your neighbors will do the same for you as you are getting beaten & raped in the bushes, or your own home. And 15 minutes later the police are there but all is ok because the attack didn’t escalate to the attacker getting hurt because u couldn’t defend yourself are now brain injured & a burden to your family because they take care of their brain injured child, but you didn’t hurt your attacker so it didn’t escalate and you can be proud of yourself. I don’t see the logic there. And what are you going to do to help your neighbors? Call the government.

  54. What? I just lost 10 IQ points after reading this piece.
    She is pushing to make the victimsdefenseless and the badguys safe? I wonder what she would try to do if her door got kicked in and someone was harming her kids? Make the badguy cookies and milk? Hell no she would do what she had to do to protect the kids.
    There are 3 types of people in this world. The sheep, The wolf, The SheepDog. We know that she is the sheep. The Sheep Dogs dont use their CHL to just protect themselfs but also anyone near them in a badspot. Wonder what she thinks of the GWOT must have wanted to make OBL some tea and talk about what he did.

  55. “Maybe I’m wrong.”
    Yes… yes you are.

    “[Carrying guns] is obviously not a solution at all,” Wood said. “If anything it contributes to a climate of fear.”
    This is a myth by those who fear the honest citizen more than criminals.

    Fact: Guns prevent an estimated 2.5 million crimes a year or 6,849 every day.* Often the gun is never fired and no blood (including the criminal’s) is shed.
    Fact: Every day 550 rapes, 1,100 murders, and 5,200 other violent crimes are prevented just by showing a gun. In less than 0.9% of these instances is the gun ever actually fired.**

    I could go on, but facts, apparently, isn’t something your interested in, but rather “feelings”. Symbolism over substance will not keep you safe.

    *Targeting Guns, Dr. Gary Kleck, Criminologist, Florida State University, Aldine, 1997
    **National Crime Victimization Survey, 2000, Bureau of Justice Statistics, BATF estimates on handgun
    supply

  56. I guess that one might make a statement that the gun is the problem , it is for a lot of left wing types who I call the mother may I crowd, In my state Texas the only reason we have ccw is that a madman drove his car into a Killen cafeteria and killed a dozen or more citizens and injured twice as many before someone was able to kill this nut case. The lady who was the many push for the ccw in Texas parents stayed as she tried to get to her weapon in her car. They both died with each other along with others who were out to have a meal.

    CCW has saved many in the state and when one crosses the line with their not following the rules here, you might lose you permit or end up in our one of our prisons that do not have ac. We have road crews too. So we follow the rules it takes about 50k to go though the system even if you are correct in the gun fight.

    I have carried 4 years and have not had a moment that was a problem and I work the oil field in sales of frac hose and we do not put oil and gas companies in the nice areas of any city , so I see alot of different types of people so in places like Houston you have to watch out for your self.

    15,000 Officers can only keep the lid on this city They have more with the DPS,county officers and such , so one needs to be watchful and careful where ever you to.

    One bad apple does not determine that you do not eat any more apples. right

  57. I found this completely insulting. You are basically telling me that I should depend on others to protect me and keep my family safe. Well if everyone followed this idea then who the hell would actually stand up and do something… No one we would all be waiting on someone else to act. I am not going to sit around waiting on “My Hero” to show up and save the day. I am responsible for my safety as well as the safety of my children and you better believe if any of us is threatened that yes I will pull out my 38. I am incharge of my life and family and I would never leave our lives in the hands of someone else friend or stranger. If you don’t want to carry that’s fine but don’t try to tell me I can’t or shouldn’t. Dwell on this for a moment….. A cop pulls over a 68 year old lady and as she is retrieving her licens he notices a concealed gun permit. He asks her “Maam are you carrying any weapons?” She replies “Yes, there is a 357 under my seat a 9 in the glove box and a 38 in my purse.” The cop looks at her and says “Ma’am what are you so afraid of?” She smiles and says “Not a damn thing.”

  58. While carrying a firearm is indeed a huge responsibility, I disagree with your professor and in turn your opinion. Your professor works in a mostly sterile environment where theory and hypothesis don’t usually match up with the real world. It is simpleton logic that the reduction of firearms reduces violence. The firearm is simply a tool. Death comes from the heart and deeds of men. You see the 15 year old robber being shot as a tragedy, I see it as God given, Constitutionally protected, right to self defense. When you choose to participate in inherently dangerous activity, such as robbery, there is an implied expectation that something could possibly go wrong. When you sign up for such hi-risk activity you accept the consequences for your actions including the return fires of an armed citizen. How dare you restrict my God given right to protect His awesome gift of life for me and my family. It doesn’t matter if you “feel safe” or if I feel safe. The question is if I AM safe. The carrying of a firearm, bears a responsibility of good judgment, training, and a heightened awareness of my surroundings. Having had folks try to kill me in the past I am completely safe when I have the tools and training to protect myself and others. I would suggest you find the facts for yourself and attend some firearms training classes. Once you have the other side of the story, (something a journalist rarely does these days) you may change your opinion.
    As a professional firearms trainer I offer my invitation for you to attend one of my classes.
    I speak not from ignorance or the hypothesis of a college professor or journalist, but from first hand experience of a 24 year veteran street officer. Hemingway was correct when he wrote; “An armed man will kill an unarmed man with monotonous regularity.” I refuse to be the unarmed man. I refuse to leave the safety of my family up to lights and the actions of someone miles away who has nothing to gain by defending my interests.

  59. Wood’s comments are way off the mark. First, self protection is fundamentally an individual responsibility. No one else is going to be with you when you are walking alone, except the bad guy. Two, guns don’t create a climate of fear. A climate of fear arises from an environment that is not safe. If you have no choice but to venture in such an environment, and Temple students have no choice if they want to go there, you have to take active measures to enhance your safety.One thing is be alert. Two is don’t do stupid things. Three is obtain and carry a weapon and know how to use it under stress. The idea that guns make matters worse is an anti-gun canard that has been problem wrong. Anti-gunners must think that the dead rape victim with a bloody whistle in her mouth is superior morally to an attempted rape victim standing over her dead attacker. I don’t. Resisting an attack has been shown to lessen injuries received by the victim. Permitted firearms carriers are more than six times more law abiding than police. Do the research yourself. And in any event criminal attacks take mere seconds, police response, if you can in fact call them before you are dead, take at best a few minutes. I’d rather have a gun on me than a cell phone, but smart people carry both.

  60. People like this Carr are why people have to carry. They continue to allow criminals to be in control. The saddest part of this story is that the 15 year old kid is still alive period. I suggest the young CCW holder get more training and learn how to make the shots count.
    To Ms. Carr we will pray that when you become a victim you at least are able to tell us how you feel then…Not that we care, but it will be fun to hear.
    Paul

  61. That’s why I carry a glock 17 with a 33rnd clip. Full of 9×19 AP rounds aka blackies (u know what I’m talking bout) I pray for the day someone comes looking for trouble for I am a highly trained specially selected soldier and I will meet my enemies enerjectally on the field of battle. And probably scalp them after I pump a few rounds into their vitals. Stupid reporter come see me when u need a quality precision weapon at an affordable price. KILL THEM ALL KEEP MOVING!

  62. I am sad to hear how blissfully misguided you are. Concealed permit holders do not carry to make themselves feel better. We do it because god forbid we get shot at by a 15 year old , we have the means and training to defend ourselves. When someone threatens your life, would you like to be in a situation in which you have no ability to defend yourself? The methods your professor advocates are great at reducing the likelihood of a crime, but they in no way remove it.

    You and your professor are also severely misguided in your conclusion that carrying concealed weapons leads to a “climate of fear”. A concealed weapon is just that. Concealed. No one except you needs to know you carry it. How can an invisible weapon contribute to a “climate of fear”?

    It seems your unfamiliarity with firearms and the people who carry them legally has caused you to form uneducated and biased opinions about the matter.

  63. FRIENDS FRIENDS FRIENDS, you are all feeding into Cary and her ploy to get her “writing” and “journalism” noticed by trying to get some negative attention, if you read this article from the same forum only a week ago, http://temple-news.com/2011/09/20/collegiate-carrying/ you will see that it is is pretty much an exact copy of the article that Cary wrote.

    So what are we to believe?

    1. Cary did not bother reading this article published only a week before which garnered a lot of attention by getting 73 comments whereas most articles on here are lucky to get even 2 comments?

    2. Cary is a lazy journalist and seeing how popular the previous article was she decided to write a copycat article which is almost thought for thought in an effort to either A. Get some attention to her writing and further her journalistic career or B. A sick and twisted effort to get attention in general, as she saw that all 73 commenters on the previous article were all riled up and against the piece.

    I tend to believe the latter #2, so please please please stop giving Cary attention.

    Cary time to be original!

  64. Wait a minute, Cary Carr from Temple University is not a dumb blonde she must be a writer for The Onion Spoof stories, ha ha this has all been a news spoof telling people to just be pacifists and take a beating or worse until our neighbors come and help us, ha ha Good on Cary you almost had me fooled there.

    Because if this was a real story Cary would know that 99 times out of 100 when someone is being violently attacked or robbed or mugged the bystanders run away in fear of their own lives, they don’t go charging a criminal in order to save a stranger. If this is a real story perhaps Cary has been watching too many Chuck Norris, Stevan Segal, Bruce Willis, Rambo movies where the hero comes and saves people under attack.

  65. I follow Cary on Twitter, this is not surprising she is full of blonde ideas.

    Maybe when she was sitting on a ski lift for a photo shoot with nothing but a bikini on froze off the few brain cells she has.

    http://a3.twimg.com/profile_images/1472965843/calendar2.jpg

    Notice how not one of her friends or other students have come to her defense.

    You guys are right on when you say she is looking for attention, she says it herself in her own words.

    “Imagine being magnified on a Jumbotron in front of hundreds of people, wearing little white shorts and a red sparkly top and baring your entire midriff.
    It’s just as terrifying as it sounds, and I do it every other Saturday as a member of the Philadelphia Wings Angels – a performance group in the National Lacrosse League”

    See the rest of her story here, where she encourages other girls to be even thinner than thin, does she not realize that girls have enough body issues as it is?! Why is she encouraging dancers who are already super thin to be size zero’s?

    http://temple-news.com/2011/03/01/dance-team-dedication-demands-physical-discipline/

    This just shows that she goes out of her way to get fame.

    Ok on a serious note here Cary, if you want to redeem yourself a a journalism major at Temple, why not be fair and balanced and speak to the other side of the fence not just your liberal and stuffy college professor. I dare you to go to a local gun range and speak to actual moms and dads and store owners who own guns and see that they are all normal people who are not criminals and who are not living in fear. They would simply have a gun and never need it, than need a gun and not have it.

    I saved you the Google search go to http://www.philadelphiaarcheryandgunclub.com/ they are right next to Geno’s steaks.

  66. Here is where stuff like this drives me to the verge of insanity.

    15 year old criminal. Broke Federal law by possessing a gun (much less a handgun) at 15. It is a Federal crime for him to even purchase ammo at his age. Broke a third (PA) law by concealing his illegal gun without a permit. Broke law # 4 by attempting to rob someone. Broke # 5 by using a gun in the commission of crime # 4.

    21 year old. Defended himself legally.

    And the 21 year old scares you?

    Twit.

  67. Until Temple’s off-campus “environmental approach” is improved, you can only fight fire with fire. Violent crime around the country is down, even in this recession. States around the country are quickly learning that concealed carry licenses are deterring crime. Just because Miss Carr, Dr. Woods and the other libtards would rather be victims doesn’t mean the rest of us have to be.

    “[Carrying guns] is obviously not a solution at all,” Wood said. “If anything it contributes to a climate of fear.” Gee, I guess all those cops carrying pistols scare you. Perhaps you should just move to England already where you’ll find plenty of people who share your views and plenty of people willing to be victimized.

  68. Wow this was a really boring and stupid article. It practically defies common sense. Waste of my time. This is a pretty ignorant writer…

  69. It is not too late for Miss Cary Carr to redeem herself by doing a follow up story and getting both sides of the story by interviewing law abiding citizens who do carry as well as actually using some journalistic integrity and seeing that states that institute concealed carry the crimes take a nose dive and states or cities that do not allow or make it very difficult to get concealed carry the crime is the worst their, think Camden, NJ, Baltimore, PA, Washington DC etc.

    Everyone deserves a second chance. Look forward to seeing the follow up commentary.

  70. All I can say is that I’m glad my state does not statutorily prohibit campus carry…and my school states that the “unauthorized USE of firearms is prohibited.” I have a feeling that Cary’s attitude would change if she were the victim. It is true that, in a crime against a person, the victim (if carrying) is not likely to be able to access his/her firearm in time without foreknowledge (such as seeing his/her assailant approaching). However, this doesn’t account for the situations where a lawfully armed citizen observes a crime occuring against his/her fellow man/woman…such as a rape or robbery. Would not an armed citizen be able to do a lot of good at that point? What about in the situation of the Virginia Tech shootings? If there had been ONE armed student, is it not possible that Seung-Hui Cho would not have had such a high kill count? Police and security cannot be everywhere and extra lighting has shown no statistical improvement in crime rates. I respect your right to not carry a gun, but I’ll be damned if you infringe upon my RIGHT to do so

  71. Wow – Miss Carr has been the subject of a major smackdown here. Several comments are unnecessarily rude.

    But if I might offer her and her professors some advice – one ought to fact-check before airing one’s opinions.

    A simple on-line search for the FBI crime statistics for states with variations of concealed carry lends great credence to the position that citizens legally carrying weapons is at least co-incidental with reduced crime rates. With some factoring for other influences, it is hard to resist the conclusion that citizens who carry concealed guns are causative to reduced crime rates.

    And Miss Carr and her peers need to learn that professors, despite having PhDs, are not all-knowing even about their broad subject matter. A PhD means that one knows a great deal about one esoteric topic. A healthy dose of skepticism is a good thing. One ought to learn to research the facts and form conclusions on ones own. If you get nothing else out of college than that, your education will not be wasted.

  72. I see the author is a kind and thoughtful person. I agree with almost everything she suggests. Unfortunately she assumes that the bad people of the world are deterred by daylight, alarms, and friendly neighbors. She is wrong about this.

    Pepper spray is somewhat useful, but a 2 ounce can won’t reliably stop a determined person. That is a sad fact…they can still take you down.

    Firearms are a poor solution, but they are sometimes the ONLY solution. Besides, the firearm I carry, and never use, protects her also, because a bad person may not be sure that she isn’t the one that is armed.

    I would suggest that the author visit a shooting range and meet some of the people there that actually carry fire arms, or visit a concealed handgun permit training class. I think her attitude would change.

    I also urge her to consider what would she do if one of her neighbors burst through her door, crying “My husband is trying to kill me!”? And than what would she do if the husband appeared in the doorway immediately thereafter?

    Answer: If he thinks you might have a firearm, maybe nothing more than say “get out of here”. If he KNOWS you don’t….just sweat, I guess.

  73. I am disgusted by all the negative comments directed toward this journalist. She wrote an OPINION piece. Since when is it ok to attack the author because you don’t agree with her opinion? What we need more of here and in this country is more discussion and less personal attack. If you don’t like what she wrote, fine. Give your opinion, just like she did. Oh, and if you want to write disgusting, vile slime, make sure you put your picture and email next to it so that we can respond to you too.

  74. “That’s why I carry a glock 17 with a 33rnd clip. Full of 9×19 AP rounds aka blackies (u know what I’m talking bout) I pray for the day someone comes looking for trouble for I am a highly trained specially selected soldier and I will meet my enemies enerjectally on the field of battle. And probably scalp them after I pump a few rounds into their vitals. Stupid reporter come see me when u need a quality precision weapon at an affordable price. KILL THEM ALL KEEP MOVING!”

    Dick – You really need to step away from the video games and get out of moms basement a little more often.

  75. By reading these comments it just proves how ignorant sociaty can be!! Do the people who posted carry a gun?? Yikes!! To post such rude comments because someone has an opinion is inappropriate. Those who posted and want to be able to carry a gun are angry and rude. Yep, defiantly someone I want carring a gun!!

    My opinion- It is not the gun that kills people, people kill people. Not much is required to carry a gun, and with the mentality of some people I dont trust them with guns!! I woudnt trust them with my dog, let alone a gun around campus.

    Good for you Cary!! Well written and woudnt it be nice to walk the streets and not worry??

  76. I graduated from Temple in ’97. I legally carried the entire time I was there. I disagree with the “compliance” strategy proffered by the University and others. Look what happened last year at to the Johns Hopkins student who was stabbed for no reason after handing over his wallet. There’s a list of these type of incidents.. years ago at UPenn….the Russian grad student who was shot and killed….or the Temple student who was killed in the 90′s (hit over the head with a pipe while at the ATM). Asking one not to defend him or herself is ridiculous. You simply cannot make that determination for someone else. As a side note…one major stereotype that irritates me is that all pro 2nd Amendment supporters are right-wing conservatives or Republicans. I’m a pro 2nd Amendment Dem and I know lots of others like me. Frankly I feel like were a silent majority. If more liberals and liberal politicians spoke up/out positively about the right to own firearms and the right to defend one’s self. There’d be a Democratic landslide….universal, “single payer”, healthcare would’ve passed, not the monstrosity being implemented now (i.e. Dems would’ve had more votes). Other liberal initiatives would be progressing such as funding for education, clean energy, etc. This anti-gun agenda so many liberals have really hurts them with more “middle of the road” liberal and conservatives. I believe that one of the reasons President Obama was elected so easily was due to his position on gun control….he said he’d make no moves to increase gun control and despite right-wing propaganda he hasn’t. Anywho…this has devolved into a rant. My apologies. Good for Robert. Get better soon. As Shakespeare might have said to his attacker “turn about is fair play”.

  77. Lynn…It’s completely okay to attack an author or commenter based on their opinion….it’s been done since man first developed writing and publishing. Being rude isn’t necessary but people do it especially behind the anonymity of the interwebs. An open mind to opposing views, a healthy ability to empathize, and thicker skin are all helpful.

    What….old grey beard said.

  78. Interesting article. Everyone is entitled to their opinion, and I applaud you for stating yours. It’s a shame that many of the individuals leaving comments are taking your article too personally. No need to be so rude and crude in your comments folks.

  79. The article is beyond an opinion piece. There are citations of “facts” that aren’t or other facts excluded. For example, I can find no other account (ABC, CBS, NBC, etc.) that states the 15 year old was fleeing. Cary neglects to mention in her account that Eells was sitting on his own front porch. Anyway…

    “…shot back in retaliation”? Try self defense after the 15 year old attempted to end Eell’s life.

    “After all, aren’t these students carrying in order to feel protected when walking from classes or activities to their off-campus residencies?” Maybe they are carrying because it’s their constitutional right.

    “[Carrying guns] is obviously not a solution at all,” Wood said. “If anything it contributes to a climate of fear.” Might change her mind if she, or a loved one, is the guest of honor at an armed robbery (or worse).

    “…but the most basic safety tips we were all taught are being ignored…” How do you know? Based on what?

    “Setting up security systems and carrying pepper spray are two other preventive measures…” Neither are “preventive”. They only come into play when a bad actor has selected you as guest of honor. Security system? Can’t wear it and will only ensure that somebody arrives well after the main event to clean up the mess. Pepper spray? Wouldn’t bet my life on it.

    “Advocating carrying guns,” Wood said, “[will] send the message that we can’t rely on each other…” Actually, the opposite could not be more true. If I, heaven forbid, came upon a bad scene involving you — you may absolutely rely on me to help you. And, you will be thankful I was carrying the proper tools for the job.

    “Maybe I’m wrong. Maybe improving our relationships with community members won’t solve anything.” Yes, you’re wrong. It’s not the folks that are contributing to the strong social vibe while sitting on their porches (as Eells was) that are causing the problem. But, maybe I’m wrong. Take a shot at improving your relationship with the community members that are attempting to robbing folks at gun point and then shooting them. Please, let us know how it goes.

    How would your and Ms. Wood’s steps to create a “vibrant” and “safe” community have changed anything that happened to Eells? And, why not one word with regard to how to handle criminals that perpetrate these crimes and prey on others?

    In all seriousness, my comments are offered with the best of intent and out of concern for you and many others that haven’t been on this earth as long as most of the rest of us, and lack some of the hard experience we’ve gained. Do your research, think for yourself, interview people who have experienced the things you choose to write about. Make your today decisions based upon facts, not somebody else’s view of how things could be.

    Oh, by the way — thanks for deleting my comments after the first time I posted them.

  80. Cary: Well-written piece with a point of view with which all people probably will not agree. We need varying points of views on issues to start or continue dialogue on the issues. I have not read people’s comments on your article, but I would think people both agree and disagree with you.

  81. You’re in idiot. Maybe you should be robbed, assaulted, or terrorized in some form or fashion first, then tell the people who have been victims, and the people that refuse to be victims that they should not legally carry weapons when it’s guaranteed by the US constitution. Hmm… You try to take away their rights, but what if someone took away the freedom of the press?

    You’re an idiot.

  82. A very misguided opinion article… But everyone is entitled to it…

    Is there an update on the recovery of Robert Eells? Hope you are doing well brother.

  83. “Whoever said the pen is mightier then the sword
    obviously never encountered automatic weapons.”
    ― Douglas MacArthur

  84. “Whoever said the pen is mightier then the sword
    obviously never encountered automatic weapons.”
    ― Douglas MacArthur

    Stop deleting my comments or I swear I will stop donating money as an alumni, Gestapo!

  85. Dear Ms. Carr: Do you realize if Mr. Eells followed your advice he would be dead and then would you praise him for being a dead coward?

  86. It’s amazing how skewed everyone’s opinion really is. Cary is the only one thinking logically here. It’s idiots like all of these gun advocates that continually make this country and this city in particular one of the highest in murder rates year after year. It’s the people supporting guns and so willing to use them that have seen too many action-packed movies where the “good guy” always wins and never faces any consequences. The problem is not only criminals but these 21 year old students carrying weapons pronouncing “kill them all.”

    I also love the comparison to take away press. I have yet to hear or anyone dying or becoming serious injury as a result of reading an article. Maybe I’m wrong on that but I think guns have killed a bit more than articles…

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