SectionsMSU study questions feelings about guns on campus
Anthony Bradley
Issue date: 5/6/08 Section: News
A Missouri State professor in the sociology, anthropology and criminology department conducted a survey of how students felt about the option of carrying concealed weapons on campus.
The survey, administered by Gary Brinker during the month of April, covered different aspects of what a policy like this might entail.
"About one-third of the residents favored allowing faculty and staff to carry firearms on campus, and about one-fifth said students should be allowed to carry guns, along with special training, as well as a minimum age," Brinker said.
Brinker said the survey also measured the levels of fear when it came to acts of violence during the day or night.
"We asked questions about the likelihood of students being victimized on campus, and we had some interesting findings there," Brinker said. "We found that during the day, most people thought that it was extremely unlikely that you would be victimized."
Results from questions about violence at night were different, however.
"When we asked about the night, we received a lot more variation in response. About half said it would be unlikely, but we also had a significant amount that said it might be fairly likely," Brinker said.
Brinker said the survey included how prejudice would be associated with this policy.
"We asked the students who were in favor of the policy about different policies for males and females, and the vast majority, about 95 percent, thought the same policy would be used for both genders," Brinker said.
Junior psychology major Whitney Miller said she disagrees with anyone having guns on property other than police officials.
"I think there would be too many accidents, and I also think that there would be a lot more shootings," Miller said. "It would be impossible to keep the guns in a safe place, and they would be taking the chance of another person getting a hold of it.
"Don't get me wrong, I am terrified of someone coming on campus and shooting someone else, but I feel we would be in more danger if people were allowed to have guns."
Miller said there are other ways to protect students from violence.
"They need to think of another way to fight back, such as having automatic locks on doors and that way only the teacher can let a student in if they are late," Miller said. "There are definitely other options, and they need to look at them before doing the extreme."
Brinker said the majority of the students were against this policy, and it is unlikely to ever be applied.
"Given the fact that there wasn't a significant amount of students who favored this, my guess is there wouldn't be much chance that a policy like that would be implemented," Brinker said.
The survey, administered by Gary Brinker during the month of April, covered different aspects of what a policy like this might entail.
"About one-third of the residents favored allowing faculty and staff to carry firearms on campus, and about one-fifth said students should be allowed to carry guns, along with special training, as well as a minimum age," Brinker said.
Brinker said the survey also measured the levels of fear when it came to acts of violence during the day or night.
"We asked questions about the likelihood of students being victimized on campus, and we had some interesting findings there," Brinker said. "We found that during the day, most people thought that it was extremely unlikely that you would be victimized."
Results from questions about violence at night were different, however.
"When we asked about the night, we received a lot more variation in response. About half said it would be unlikely, but we also had a significant amount that said it might be fairly likely," Brinker said.
Brinker said the survey included how prejudice would be associated with this policy.
"We asked the students who were in favor of the policy about different policies for males and females, and the vast majority, about 95 percent, thought the same policy would be used for both genders," Brinker said.
Junior psychology major Whitney Miller said she disagrees with anyone having guns on property other than police officials.
"I think there would be too many accidents, and I also think that there would be a lot more shootings," Miller said. "It would be impossible to keep the guns in a safe place, and they would be taking the chance of another person getting a hold of it.
"Don't get me wrong, I am terrified of someone coming on campus and shooting someone else, but I feel we would be in more danger if people were allowed to have guns."
Miller said there are other ways to protect students from violence.
"They need to think of another way to fight back, such as having automatic locks on doors and that way only the teacher can let a student in if they are late," Miller said. "There are definitely other options, and they need to look at them before doing the extreme."
Brinker said the majority of the students were against this policy, and it is unlikely to ever be applied.
"Given the fact that there wasn't a significant amount of students who favored this, my guess is there wouldn't be much chance that a policy like that would be implemented," Brinker said.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 14
Tom Kane
posted 5/06/08 @ 2:01 PM CST
Mr. Brinker should be commended for his survey as well as those students who participated. The notion of allowing students to carry guns on campus to better protect themselves is ludicrous! Students who are lobbying to carry guns on campus are uninformed as to the facts. (Continued…)
Foreign Born Patriot
posted 5/08/08 @ 6:21 PM CST
Obviously this "test" was done by someone who does not understand the issues at hand. We are not discussing the issues of wether we want guns on campus but rather do we want good guns on campus or not. (Continued…)
JT Eberhard
posted 5/08/08 @ 9:44 PM CST
Andrew-Born-Transparent-Alias-You've-Never-Denied,
They don't agree with you? Hell, they MUST be misinformed. Right...
Hey, you've got all the numbers, why don't you just link us poor, misguided ?
I submit to all of you that Andrew Simpson, the same nutjob that posts under his name, FBP, and the occasional other alias with patent unreason and an easily perturbed dedication to ideas (no matter how strong the evidence or opposing argument may be), could legally carry a gun - he's told us he has the permit. (Continued…)
Foreign Born Patriot
posted 5/09/08 @ 12:24 PM CST
Mr JT: Agreement has nothing to do with my post, it has all to do with reality. If you want to die in a small room at the mercy of one who has none help yourself. (Continued…)
Amber Culbertson-Faegre
posted 5/09/08 @ 5:48 PM CST
FBP,
First off... this was not a "test", it was a survey. It is intended to measure the responses and attitudes about a subject matter. Based on the article, it seemed well designed. (Continued…)
Barbara
posted 5/09/08 @ 7:34 PM CST
There is not enough information in the article to ascertain whether or not the survey was well designed. How were the questions phrased? How were the survey participants chosen? What, if any, statistical analysis was done? There is no information about any of these things in the article. (Continued…)
B.B.
Barbara
posted 5/10/08 @ 8:09 AM CST
LOL
"Based on the article, it seemed well designed."
Funny how your argument changes when you get caught assuming facts not in evidence. It might be a "well designed" opinion poll. (Continued…)
Ryan Culbertson-Faegre
posted 5/10/08 @ 1:47 PM CST
Barbara,
I am offended by your character assassination.
A number of months ago, I suggested we follow our founding fathers' examples and give our government something to be concerned about. (Continued…)
Barbara
posted 5/11/08 @ 11:29 AM CST
Character assassination? Ryan, you have already revealed your character. I am simply reacting to what you have said. You advocated violence, including Molotov cocktails. (Continued…)
Ryan Culbertson-Faegre
posted 5/12/08 @ 1:41 PM CST
Barbara,
Just as you do not wish to harm anyone with your guns, I do not wish to harm anyone with my proposals of violent revolt. I simply want to have the option on the table. (Continued…)
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