One more thing for today.
While at the archives today, news came to us that someone had possibly threatened a professor on campus with a gun. It turned out (as best as we understand it anyway, since campus police were not forthcoming with information), that it was (possibly) not a real gun, and the person was either in custody or had left the campus. No direct information was coming from the police except by us calling and asking what was up, so I'm guessing they never thought there was a real threat. But for a few minutes, we closed the door to the archives and talked nervously about what was happening.
With all the stuff in the news lately about school shootings (and the ridiculous and insulting allegations that they are carried out by the government), open-carry proponents walking through Target with rifles, and concealed carry legislation in the news, I've been meaning to say something. The strangeness of being in a situation where, for a brief span of time, it seemed as though I might actually be at a facility with an unhinged person with a firearm is additional motivation to do so.
I do not like the idea of people walking around with concealed firearms. In fact, I don't like the idea of people walking around with handguns much at all. I can't speak for my house since it's not actually mine, but in my space here at least, firearms are not welcome. You can put them in a box by the door if you must carry them around with you, and you can pick them up when you leave. The creation of an environment where people feel it necessary to have a gun on them for self-protection is self-perpetuating, and I will not encourage or allow it in my space.
While at the archives today, news came to us that someone had possibly threatened a professor on campus with a gun. It turned out (as best as we understand it anyway, since campus police were not forthcoming with information), that it was (possibly) not a real gun, and the person was either in custody or had left the campus. No direct information was coming from the police except by us calling and asking what was up, so I'm guessing they never thought there was a real threat. But for a few minutes, we closed the door to the archives and talked nervously about what was happening.
With all the stuff in the news lately about school shootings (and the ridiculous and insulting allegations that they are carried out by the government), open-carry proponents walking through Target with rifles, and concealed carry legislation in the news, I've been meaning to say something. The strangeness of being in a situation where, for a brief span of time, it seemed as though I might actually be at a facility with an unhinged person with a firearm is additional motivation to do so.
I do not like the idea of people walking around with concealed firearms. In fact, I don't like the idea of people walking around with handguns much at all. I can't speak for my house since it's not actually mine, but in my space here at least, firearms are not welcome. You can put them in a box by the door if you must carry them around with you, and you can pick them up when you leave. The creation of an environment where people feel it necessary to have a gun on them for self-protection is self-perpetuating, and I will not encourage or allow it in my space.