Fighting fire with...fire?

The school shooting at the University of Texas at Austin this week is another school shooting in a trend that seems to be increasing. In this instance, a masked man walked into a library on the UT Austin campus and opened fire with an AK-47 before he took his own life. No one else was hurt in this shooting. This is a particularly scary problem for any college student because we all know how easy it would be to do the same thing. The State of Texas is currently debating on whether or not it should be legal for students with a permit to carry a concealed handgun on campus. Now, I own and love guns as much as the next guy, maybe more, but the idea of having the student next to me carrying a pistol would not make me feel safer. Policemen and Soldiers in our military have extensive training on how to use their weapon in a crowded area, and I can’t imagine a busy, college student would have the same training and recertification it takes to be a skilled marksman under the most extreme circumstances. The government should be looking at more preventative measures to stop gun violence in schools. Students carrying guns may be able to defend themselves but it is only a reaction to a problem already occurring. Unfortunately, most preventative measures such as metal detectors just aren’t practical for a University and so the problem still exists. I think the best preventative measure is education of the students. Awareness of the problem and signs to look for in students that may be depressed or lonely would be a good start. Education on hazing and bullying and the consequences it can have in the worst of circumstances. Resources for students who are feeling depressed or suicidal are probably the most important resource for helping students in need. I don’t think the answer lies with arming the school population and hoping for the best.