With an increase in crime around Wichita State’s campus, students are in danger every time they go to class—especially those with evening classes that do not get out until after dark. Poor parking options increase the potential for bad situations for those walking to their car, and current rules don’t allow anyone to carry guns on campus.

Two issues need to be addressed. First, parking is and always has been a problem at WSU. When a person is forced to park across campus and walk to and from class, it creates a chance for that person to be assaulted or harmed. 

Because WSU is primarily a commuter school, we have parking lots that extend beyond the main part of campus. The parking lot across 17th street has been a popular site for muggings and armed robbery. Fortunately, no student has been hurt, but several wallets and electronic devices have been stolen.

The crime rate for muggings and robberies seemed to increase this semester, with various instances happening recently. Two weeks ago, I would have argued that most crime around campus happens at night, but we all got the email about the broad daylight phone robbery on Hillside Street south of 17th Street. Criminals will stop at nothing sometimes to get what they want, and students should be able to protect themselves.

It has always been a law that weapons are not allowed on college campuses, especially with school shootings happening far too often, but less people would lose their lives if students were allowed to conceal and carry. 

Some far-left activists are going to disagree with me, saying that guns kill people and the college is right for not allowing any weapons on campus.

Guns do not kill people—people do. There have been several instances of students being held at gunpoint and robbed on the edge of campus and the surrounding areas. WSU is located in an urban area where crime rates are a little higher than the average neighborhood. Even with the WSU police station nearby, crime still happens—it is unavoidable. 

When a person receives his or her conceal and carry license, they must first go through numerous testing procedures, including a background check and firearm training. The class necessary to become a licensee includes self-defense training and each individual has the knowledge and maturity to own and operate a firearm.

Some may argue the fact that no psychological testing is done to ensure the person receiving their license is “sane” enough to have one. Well, that could simply be at the discretion of the college. Since WSU is always keen on making money and we have a wonderful psychology clinic on campus, students who wanted to get a conceal and carry permit could pay a small testing fee.

That way, they would be allowed to carry their weapon on campus and the Democrats could not complain about their mental competency. Plus, it would generate income for the college and psychology clinic as well as provide more clients for the staff psychologists and graduate students. It is a win-win for everyone.

Not allowing students to conceal and carry is only putting everyone in more danger if there happened to be some kind of campus shooting or large crime. Charlton Heston, former actor and National Rifle Association president, said it better than anyone: “If guns are outlawed, only outlaws will have guns,” meaning if people are now allowed to carry weapons, they are vulnerable to the criminals who do.

Take for instance a school shooting that happened in Colorado, post-Columbine. A student brought a gun to school and fired only a few shots before being subdued by bystanders. If students at WSU were allowed to conceal and carry, it would limit the amount of casualties should a tragedy like this occur.

We like to think we live in a good place, where crime rates are low and our campus is a safe, loving community. While the only “major” crime on campus has been car theft, there has been some shootings to the southwest and across the street. We cannot help what goes on outside of our campus property, but we can make sure students are safer if anything does happen.