I am terrified by the idea that concealed carry may become legal on Auburn's campus.
Concealed carry is supposed to allow students to use guns as a form of self-defense, but it has the possibility to cause more harm than good.
Suppose that a student is walking back to his or her residence hall late at night, and someone begins to follow them.
The other person may be completely harmless, but if the student is frightened enough or possibly intoxicated after a night at the bars, the student may feel compelled to shoot at the other person.
This could cause serious injury or death to the other person.
Even if a student is being openly threatened or attacked, guns are still not the answer.
I myself carry pepper spray in case I am ever assaulted.
Pepper spray is a preferable means of self-defense than a gun because it enables one to defend him or herself and get away from an attacker without causing serious injury or death to the other person.
The University also offers self-defense classes in which students can learn how to defend themselves without weapons if they are assaulted.
Even if guns are permitted as a means of self-defense only, there is certainly a risk that they will not be used as such.
Do not forget the tragedies of Columbine, Virginia Tech, UA Huntsville and other less publicized school shootings.
If guns are permitted on campus, it would be easier for a large-scale shooting to occur, and thus the chances of one would increase dramatically.
I hope that those in charge of resolving this issue will realize that permitting guns could make Auburn University far less safe than it is now.
I know that if concealed carry is allowed, I will never feel safe on campus again, and it will force me to transfer to a different university where concealed carry is not allowed.
Lindsay Schneider
sophomore, psychology
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