Self-defense on campus

From today's Trib.

Self-defense on campus
Public Forum Letter


Whenever I read about a shooting spree, I inquire about the weapons
policy at that location. In nearly every instance, I've found that
people are prohibited from carrying firearms there. This includes
Trolley Square, which has a no-weapons policy.

A rare exception was the New Life Church in Colorado Springs, where
the pastor had asked several parishioners with concealed-firearm
permits to discreetly carry their weapons during services. When a
heavily armed madman entered the New Life chapel and opened fire last
December, he was quickly gunned down by a church member. Contrast
this with the outcomes at Northern Illinois University and Virginia
Tech. In each case the murderer was able to kill and maim to his
heart's content.

Fortunately, Utah state colleges and universities are required by law
to allow adults with concealed-firearm permits to carry their self-
defense weapons on campus. We should thank our legislators for
passing this law, the Utah Attorney General's Office for enforcing it
(despite fierce opposition from the University of Utah) and the Utah
Supreme Court for upholding it.

N. William Clayton
Director of Communications
Gun Owners of Utah
Sandy