by Guns on Campus in Florida
An Opinion Letter
Evan C. Cook
Florida State College at Jacksonville
August 18, 2015
Office of Governor Rick Scott
State of Florida
The Capitol
400 S. Monroe St.
Tallahassee, FL 32399-0001
Dear Governor Scott,
I am writing you today to inform you of my position on the current issue of licensed owners of concealed weapons having their weapons restricted from college campuses throughout Florida. My official stance on this subject is that I believe any person of legal age, has a right to carry a concealed weapon, as outlined in the second amendment of the Constitution of the United States of America. I know that this stance is controversial, in that guns have no right to be on a college campus that has never had violence in the past, but this is an issue more specifically focused on self-defense.
When the country was in its infancy, there was a pride that came with protecting your homeland, and to prevent outsiders from taking your possessions, and with them, your pride. Our country’s leaders were very different back then, as were the values. There was one ideal that survived these 239 years, and that is liberty. Living in a free society, fearless of those who could oppose you because you know you have the means to repel them is what makes America what it is.
The tragedy that occurred at FSU in November 2014 brought this issue back onto the table, and as a result, you passed a bill that allows the concealment of a firearm for the first 48 hours of an emergency evacuation, such as a hurricane, or terrorist situation. My problem with this is that you aren’t required to have a concealment license for this to apply to you. Any and every firearm in Florida should be licensed, and this aspect of the bill worries me for the success of that goal. Having the right to carry is just that, our right. But there are guidelines that need to be followed to allow our state to remain a peaceful, safe place to raise families in.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
Evan C. Cook
References
http://college.usatoday.com/2015/08/14/florida-campus-carry-bills/
http://www.upressonline.com/2015/05/cocked-and-loaded-and-ready-for-campus/
http://www.guns.com/2015/04/14/florida-campus-carry-legislation-wobbling-in-state-senate/
