NWA LETTERS

Scenarios for concealed handguns

In Samuel Totten’s guest column on Feb. 25, he makes many good points in his arguments against faculty and staff members carrying guns on college campuses. He offers seven scenarios that could result in shootings, both unintended and intended. I would like, however, to offer up seven horrific scenarios that might need to be considered as fuel for the opposing viewpoint.

First, the 1991 Luby’s Cafeteria shooting in Killeen, Texas. A lone man, firing from his pickup, sprayed the building with gunfire, killing 23 and wounding 20. Second, the 1999 shootings by two students at Columbine High School resulting in 12 students and one teacher killed and 21 injured. Third, the 2005 Red Lake Minnesota High School shootings that killed seven and wounded five. Fourth, the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre where 32 people died and 17 more were wounded. Fifth, in 2008, the shootings at Northern Illinois University that took the lives of five and 21 injured. Sixth, the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shootings where 20 gradeschool children and six adults were killed. And, finally, seventh, the Aurora Theatre killings in 2012 with 12 people killed and 70 injured.

It seems rather obvious, to me at least, that if a properly trained and armed administrator, teacher, theater patron or customer had been at these locations at these times, much of this carnage could have been stopped “dead in its tracks.” Dr. Totten made some excellent points. But, hopefully, he can see the difference between what might happen and what did happen.

There is a saying that goes, “If you need a gun and don’t have one, you may never need a gun again.” Somewhere between his column and this letter, we can find a middle ground.

JIM STOWE

Fayetteville

[email protected]

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