SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION HOT TOPICS CAFÉ ARE THERE GOOD REASONS TO BAN, CONTROL OR PROTECT CERTAIN KINDS OF FIREARMS? October 29, 2015 Prepared by Jeff Downard, NAU Philosophy Department
In response to recent gun-related violence, what should NAU do? NAU s current weapon s policy is as follows: Use, possession, display, or storage of any weapon, dangerous instrument, explosive material or device, fireworks, bomb-making materials or dangerous chemical on university property, at a university sponsored activity or in violation of law or university policy, is not permitted unless one of the following exceptions apply: 1) 2) The person is transporting or storing a lawfully possessed firearm within a motor vehicle. If the vehicle is unattended, the firearm must be either within a locked compartment or within a locked vehicle. The firearm must also be stored out of plain sight. The university may require those choosing to store firearms within their vehicles to park in designated areas. The person is authorized to carry weapons by Arizona or federal statutes concerning law enforcement officers. person is authorized in writing by university officials with the authority to grant permission to 3) The possess weapons for academic or other legitimate university business. Below is a graphic each state and the type of weapon laws they uphold. Arisona falls under the yellow category where schools decide weapons policy. Given this, does NAU need to adjust it s weapon s policy? Or should NAU promote proper weapon usage instead? Color Coding Key RED = Concealed guns allowed by law GREY = Concealed guns allowed by law, but schools limit locations and who carries GREEN = Concealed guns on campus prohibited by law YELLOW = Schools decide weapons policy ORANGE = Concealed guns allowed only in locked cars in parking lots
In response to gun-related violence at schools, what should the state of Arizona do? Arizona defines a weapon as the following: weapon refers to any object or substance designed to (or which could be reasonably expected to) inflict a wound, cause injury, incapacitate, or cause death, including, without limitation, all firearms (loaded and unloaded, simulated and real), devices designed to expand a projectile (such as bb guns, air guns, and potato guns), electronic control devises such as tasers or stun guns, swords, knives, with blades of 5 inches or longer, martial arts weapons, bows and arrows, and chemicals such as mace, tear gas, or oleoresin capsicum, but excluding normally available over-the-counter self defense chemical repellents. Does Arizona need to change from allowing the school s to decide their weapons policy? Should the state encourage additional requirements? Consider the following: Allow teachers to keep firearms in the classroom More severe punishments for More strict enforcement of students who violate the rules existing rules against bringing guns to school Have state law require all parents with school age children secure all firearms in the home with safe trigger locks Punish parents of students who bring guns to school if the firearms were not adequatly secured Hiring armed security guards Below are three graphics showing the states where students bring weapons to school, where students are theatened with weapons, and where teachers are threatened or attacked.
In response to gun-related violence nationwide, what federal and state regulations should we have for buying, carrying and using firearms? Buying One method of regulating the purchasing of firearms is to have more thourough and extensive background checks. Additionally, there could be a longer waiting period for approval or arrival of a weapon after purchase. The nation, state or city could place restrictions on gun possession for people who have a record of alcohol, drug abuse, or violent acts of assult or battery. Possession Similar to the suggestions brought up in the second question, the nation, state, or city could put stricter requirements on keeping firearms in the home or car. Concealed weaponry could be entirely outlawed. In the extreme case, the nation could decide to get rid of weapon possession all together. It would be imporant to note that the United States does have the highest rate of gun-related murders than other countries. Turkey, Switzerland, Belgium and Italy have approximately 70,000 deaths realated to firearm homicides. 300,000 deaths in the United States are firearm homicides.
How should we balance considerations of justice and the need to protect innocent citizens from gun-related violence with the rights of liberty? 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. Prior to the Supreme Court s 2008 decision in District of Columbia v. Heller, the courts had yet to definitively state what right the Second Amendment protected. The opposing theories were: individual rights approach, whereby the Amendment protected individuals rights to 1) An firearm ownership, possession, and transportation; 2) a states rights approach, under which the Amendment only protected the right to keep and bear arms in connection with organized state militia units. Moreover, it was generally believed that the Amendment was only a bar to federal action, not to state or municipal restraints.
NOTES: NAU s Philosophy in the Public Interest is non partisan and does not endorse any position with respect to the issues we discuss. Philosophy in the Public Interest is a neutral convener for civil discourse. Contact us: 928-523-8339 nau.ppi@nau.edu nau.edu/ppi SOURCES http://nau.edu/police/policies/weapons/ http://smartgunlaws.org/gun-deaths-and-injuries-statistics/ http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/06/10/school-safety-maps_n_5481285. html http://www.armedcampuses.org/ http://www.gunpolicy.org/ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2012/12/14/chart-the -u-s-has-far-more-gun-related-killings-than-any-other-developed-country/