261457 Armed campuses: The current status of concealed guns on college campuses

Monday, October 29, 2012

Karen Teeple , Department of Health and Recreation Professions., The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
Amy J. Thompson, PhD, CHES , Department of Health and Recreation Professions, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
James H. Price, PhD, MPH , Department of Public Health, University of Toledo, Toledo, OH
Nicola Perry, MS , Wellness Department, Glendale Community College, Glendale, AZ
On April 16, 2007, one of the deadliest college campus shootings in America's history took place on the Virginia Tech College campus wherein thirty-two innocent college students and faculty lost their lives to a heavily armed gunman. At Northern Illinois University in 2008, 6 students were killed and 16 wounded in another infamous campus shooting. The knee-jerk response of the pro-gun lobby was to push for more firearms on all college campuses in our nation. Subsequently, there are 9 states that currently allow individual campuses to decide their own policies regarding whether or not firearms can be carried on campus. Current legislative activity for “Guns on Campus” bills is ongoing in 23 states and more states will continue to see such bills in 2012-2013. This review article will discuss the current status of this legislative activity, the pros and cons of having firearms on campuses, identify specific campuses stances and the public health implications of firearms on campus.

Learning Areas:
Public health or related public policy

Learning Objectives:
Identify the current status of concealed carry legisaltion on college campuses. Discuss the potential implication of having firearms on college campuses.

Keywords: Injury Prevention, College Students

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am a student in public health who have written several research articles on this topic and presented at conferences.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

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