Oy Vey. Here we go again. One more feather in Florida’s dunce cap. A local State Representative, Dennis Baxley, R-Ocala, the author of Florida’s infamous ‘Stand your Ground’ law, is now supporting a bill (HB 4005/SB176) that would allow guns on the grounds of Florida public colleges and universities.
This bill, no surprise, is being heavily promoted by the NRA, and is their opportunistic response to the national discussion about sexual assaults on campus. With their help, similar bills are being introduced in more than a dozen other states. Here are some interesting sound bites from their advocates:
Michele Fiore, member of Nevada State Assembly; “If these young hot little girls have a firearm, I wonder how many men will want to assault them.”
And from our own Mr. Baxley: “If you’ve got a person that’s raped because you wouldn’t let them carry a firearm to defend themselves, I think you’re responsible.”
won’t bother commenting on Ms Fiore’s statement – she’s Nevada’s problem – but Baxley’s comment is a non-sequitur; it’s like blaming weather forecasters for a tornado.
So let’s consider the consequences of guns in the hands of college students. What could possibly go wrong? Well, since alcohol consumption and/or substance abuse seems to be a common precondition for stupid, reckless and violent behavior, and since booze and drugs are not exactly a rarity on campuses, allowing guns in the hands of such individuals doesn’t appear to be a great idea.
The vast majority of campus victims are assaulted by a partner, friend or close acquaintance and it isn’t likely that in those circumstances, one would come to a situation fully armed. More importantly, guns on campus would allow the arming of assailants and provide another tool for intimidation and violence. And just consider the unintended consequences of allowing guns at sporting events…that alone should be enough to say “no” to this inane idea.
Mr. Baxley said, “The only thing that will stop an out of control person with a firearm …is a good guy with a firearm.” Sound familiar? If the answer to violence is more guns to prevent it, where does it stop? Guns do not kill but people with guns do. If the goal is to stop an attacker, then advocate for pepper spray. It’s the best self-defense device available, it’s non-lethal, containers are available that are small enough to attach to a key ring and an attacker is made defenseless for 20 minutes. That’s enough time to get away and get help. And should a mistake be made, no one dies.
There is an irony here that is impossible to ignore. Mr. Baxley is the owner of six funeral homes in the Ocala –Villages area. Surely business can’t be that bad.
Marsha Shearer is a Villages resident.
