Phil Valentine wants more guns on campus
College life.... a time where young adults are growing, learning, experimenting, and of course - PARTYING. Who does Nashville's conservative radio talk show guy, Phil Valentine, blame for the VA Tech tragedy? Politicians that
defeated a bill that would've allowed students to carry concealed guns on campus. Phil Valentine
insisted that if students could carry guns on campus, the VA Tech tragedy would not have happened. Perhaps, but look at the big picture .... what else would happen if students were routinely able to carry and possess guns on campus? Does any reasonably intelligent person believe that a multitude of students with guns on campus would prevent murders over time? Doesn't this guy think before he speaks? Of course he seems reluctant to blame the campus police whose job it is to protect the students.
Put yourself in a professor's shoes. Imagine teaching a class knowing there are concealed guns in the room, particularly these days where binge drinking among college students is at an
all time high.
Violence directly related to alcohol consumption for students 18-24 is also very high. Alcohol consumption
peaks in college aged students 21-25, with 44% admitting to binge drinking ... and Phil thinks giving guns to students to carry at school is a good idea.
In universities, the pressure to succeed and to make the grade is severe, it is a very stressful time for these young adults. In my experience, many students begin taking psycho-pharmaceutical drugs in college (Prozac, Paxil, etc...) to control panic attacks, depression and other psychological problems that tend to manifest themselves during the stress of college life. Students are also prone to relationship and social stress in college that often precipitates emotional extremes. Hardly a weekend frat party goes by without a fight breaking out ... and Phil Valentine wants to add guns to the mix. Real smart, Phil ... great thinking! That should keep the students safe. Beer drinking party animals with guns.
Students carrying guns on campus is about the most ludicrous suggestion I think I've ever heard. You can't take a gun into a Federal Building, into a concert, or on a plane ... but it's ok to carry concealed handguns to class, frat parties, sporting events? Are you nuts, Phil? Think about kids with guns, alcohol, the stress of college all together. More things could go wrong than go right. This is an excellent example of the judgement of idiot gun nut conservatives. These are the same people who put America in this Iraq quagmire. Might makes right. Guns are the solution to everything.
UPDATE:CNN reports that the killer purchased the gun legally from Roanoke Firearms and the background check took one minute. UPDATE II:
Phil Valentive says we should have faith in people who go through background checks and have proper firearms training .... yea like the Secret Service guy who accidentally
shot his fellow agents in the face and leg at the White House yesterday?
