Lori Haas and Mary Kay Mace, mothers whose daughters were felled by gun violence at two separate universities (Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois, respectively) have written to Idaho Gov. Butch Otter, asking that he not sign a bill that allows guns on Idaho college campuses. Their letter follows:
We are the mothers of students victimized by gun violence on college campuses and are aware that recently passed legislation (SB 1254 – guns on campus) is now on your desk awaiting your action. This legislation would allow retired law enforcement and people with an enhanced permit to carry concealed weapons on certain parts of Idaho’s college and university campuses. We are writing to you today because we reject the notion that allowing concealed carry by university staff, students or visitors will make campuses safer places. Statistically, college campuses have very low crime rates. What happened at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University remains extremely rare. We have lived the nightmare of what guns on campus can do and we strongly reject the idea that adding more guns into the mix is a safe or sane answer. It is not! More here.
D.F. (Dave) Oliveria joined The Spokesman-Review in 1984. He currently is a columnist and compiles the Huckleberries Online blog and writes about North Idaho in his Huckleberries column.
1254 – guns on campus) is now on your desk awaiting your action. This legislation would allow retired law enforcement and people with an enhanced permit to carry concealed weapons on certain parts of Idaho’s college and university campuses. We are writing to you today because we reject the notion that allowing concealed carry by university staff, students or visitors will make campuses safer places. Statistically, college campuses have very low crime rates. What happened at Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University remains extremely rare. We have lived the nightmare of what guns on campus can do and we strongly reject the idea that adding more guns into the mix is a safe or sane answer. It is not! More here.
