“Please listen, On Oct. 15th, don’t come to school here. Trust me.”
This note was posted on the campus of Baton Rouge Community College on October 7.
This threat, along with other recent gun violence issues, has caused controversy throughout the country on the topic of gun control.
Like many, some students believe citizens should have the right to bear arms, including a concealed weapon.
“I think that it’s an inevitable right. It’s part of the Constitution. It should be observed, acknowledged, and we should be able to carry guns if chosen,” LSU sophomore Ellen Farmer said.
However, with gun violence becoming more prevalent, other students believe there should be stronger gun control.
“I think they should only be for leisure and hunting,” LSU sophomore Caroline Greer said. “The constitution says we have the right to bear arms in regards to a militia, and I don’t think the founding fathers really pictured everyone having the right to have quite as many guns as they do nowadays.”
Despite differing opinions, many students believe some precautions should be taken in order to protect people from gun violence.
“In America, we need to have a lot more gun education,” Farmer said.
“Background checks should probably be stronger, go back in time more, and there should be more restrictions on the type of guns and the amount of guns you should have,” Greer said.
Either way, guns are not allowed on LSU’s campus according to state law. However, the LSU Police Department knows there is always the possibility of a gun threat, and they are preparing for the worst.
“We do have a plan, and we do have protocols,” LSUPD Capt. Cory Lalonde said. “It all comes down to from a law enforcement perspective, we don’t have the luxury of wondering if it’s going to happen. We have to plan for when. So we plan for the worst and hope for the best.”
LSUPD is trying to be proactive, keeping safety as a top priority, said Lalonde.
Is LSU Safe from Gun Violence?
October 13, 2015
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