Christian Universities: Where Guns And God Converge

The topic of whether or not to allow guns on college campuses has been a subject of debate in the United States for many years. While the majority of colleges and universities in the US prohibit the carrying of firearms on their campuses, a growing pro-gun movement has been promoting state legislation to force colleges to allow concealed guns on campus. This has led to a variety of gun policies across different states and individual schools. Some states allow guns to be locked in cars on campus, some allow concealed carry on campus, and others leave the decision up to each school. This debate has also extended to Christian colleges, with some debating whether to arm their campus safety officers and others, like Liberty University, a private Christian school, allowing guns on campus.

Christian universities with pro-gun policies

The overwhelming majority of colleges and universities in the United States prohibit the carrying of firearms on their campuses. However, an increasingly extreme pro-gun movement in the USA is promoting state legislation and litigation to force colleges and universities to allow concealed guns on campus.

Liberty University

Liberty University is a private Christian school that allows guns on campus. In 2016, Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr. encouraged students to get concealed weapon permits. The university has had armed campus officers since 1980, and currently has 48 police officers who carry semi-automatic pistol firearms and have the same authority to arrest as local police do.

University of Texas at Austin

The University of Texas at Austin permits individuals with a license to carry to bring a concealed handgun onto campus. The university is obliged to follow Texas law, which requires individuals to be 21 or older and to clear eligibility requirements related to criminal background, mental health history, and substance abuse issues.

Wheaton College

Wheaton College, a Christian university in suburban Chicago, has considered arming its campus safety officers. However, as a small, private college, Wheaton does not use sworn police officers to patrol its campus.

Trinity International University

Trinity International University in Illinois has opted to not arm its campus police, choosing instead to work closely with local police.

Other Christian Colleges

While not specifically mentioned as being pro-gun, several other Christian colleges have debated whether to arm their campus safety officers.

The safety of students and staff

Proponents of allowing guns on campus argue that it can increase safety, as 94% of mass shootings occur in gun-free zones. They also believe that restrictions are not a deterrent to those with bad intentions, and that allowing licensed individuals to carry concealed weapons can act as a preventative measure. Additionally, they argue that college campuses are open to the public and that it is not feasible to enforce restrictions.

However, opponents, including students, staff, and campus law enforcement, believe that allowing firearms on campus would disrupt the learning environment and decrease overall safety. Surveys have shown that the majority of faculty, students, and staff do not feel safer with more guns on campus and do not believe that armed individuals promote a greater sense of safety. There is also concern that allowing guns on campus would create new dangers and place a significant financial burden on institutions.

In states where guns are permitted on college campuses, there have been reports of unintentional shootings by both faculty and students. These incidents highlight the increased risk associated with handling firearms, especially in locations like dorm rooms.

To ensure the safety of students and staff, some preventive and preparatory measures can be implemented. This includes training for students and faculty to recognize warning signs of mental illness, providing counseling services, developing effective campus alert systems, and offering additional training for campus police.

The Second Amendment

> A well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.

One of the earliest interpretations of the Second Amendment was in United States v. Cruikshank (1876), where the Supreme Court ruled that the right to bear arms is not granted by the Constitution itself but that the Second Amendment restricts the powers of the National Government from infringing upon this right. In Miller v. United States (1939), the Supreme Court further clarified that the amendment does not protect weapon types that do not have a "reasonable relationship to the preservation or efficiency of a well-regulated militia."

More recently, in District of Columbia v. Heller (2008), the Supreme Court ruled that the Second Amendment protects an individual's right to keep a gun for self-defense, marking the first time the Court affirmed an individual's right to own a gun. This ruling was further expanded in McDonald v. Chicago (2010), where the Court held that the Second Amendment applies to state and local governments through the Due Process Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment. Additionally, in Caetano v. Massachusetts (2016), the Supreme Court reiterated that the Second Amendment extends to all instruments that constitute bearable arms, even those not in existence at the time of the amendment's ratification.

State legislation

In the United States, campus carry refers to the possession of firearms on college or university campuses. Each state has its own laws concerning campus carry. As of 2023, 19 states ban the carrying of a concealed weapon on a college campus, while 19 states allow individual colleges and universities to decide whether to prohibit or permit it. 12 states permit the carrying of concealed weapons on public post-secondary college campuses, and two states, Utah and West Virginia, require all public colleges and universities to allow the carrying of concealed weapons on their property.

Utah was the first state to legalize campus carry on a statewide basis in 2004. In 2012, the Colorado Supreme Court ruled that the 2003 Colorado Concealed Carry Act prohibited public universities in the state from regulating the possession of concealed handguns on campus. In June 2022, the Supreme Court in NYSRPA v. Bruen held that the right to carry a firearm extends outside the home, with limited exceptions unlikely to apply to college campuses.

There are three types of campus carry laws: mandatory, institutional, and non-permissive. Mandatory laws require publicly funded institutions to allow firearms on campus, though some locations may be exempted. Institutional laws allow each institution to decide whether to allow firearms on campus. Non-permissive laws prohibit firearms on any institutional property by law, with limited exceptions. Some states require firearms to be concealed, while others allow concealed or open carry.

Proponents of campus carry argue that college campuses are open to the public, so restrictions are not enforced, and bad actors are not stopped. They also believe that allowing carry on campus will decrease mass shootings, as 94% of them occur in gun-free zones. Opponents, however, believe that firearms in classrooms will disrupt learning and diminish student safety. A 2012 study found that a majority of faculty, students, and staff at two college campuses did not want qualified individuals to be able to carry guns on campus and did not feel safer with more concealed guns on campus.

Lobbyists and pro-gun student organisations

Lobbyists and pro-gun organisations have played a significant role in shaping the gun debate within Christian universities. In 2015, following a shooting at Umpqua Community College in Oregon, Christian universities across the nation began debating the pros and cons of allowing firearms on campus. This debate is influenced by various factors, including state laws, safety concerns, and the potential impact on the school's culture and values.

In Texas, for example, a campus carry law was passed, requiring colleges and universities to allow individuals with concealed handgun licenses to carry their weapons on school premises. However, private institutions like Abilene Christian University and Lubbock Christian University opted out of this law, highlighting the autonomy of private schools in navigating the gun debate.

The National Rifle Association (NRA), a prominent gun lobby group, has historically advocated for the right to bear arms and played a role in shaping public policy. In the 1990s, the NRA found itself linked to the militia movement, despite claims of having "no relationship" with the movement. Investigative reports revealed that the NRA had sent a top lobbyist as an emissary to a meeting with the Michigan Militia, blurring the lines between gun rights advocacy and militia involvement.

On the other hand, pro-gun student organisations within Christian universities have also influenced the discussion. While there is limited information on specific pro-gun student groups, student leaders and representatives have actively engaged in the gun debate. For instance, police chief Jimmy Ellison of Abilene Christian University acknowledged the valid points raised by both sides of the issue, underscoring the complexity of the discussion within Christian higher education institutions.

The presence of lobbyists and pro-gun student organisations in the gun debate within Christian universities highlights the multifaceted nature of the issue. As Christian universities continue to grapple with the question of allowing firearms on campus, the influence of these lobbyists and student groups will likely play a pivotal role in shaping campus policies and the overall culture surrounding gun rights and responsibilities.

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