The idea of concealed and open carry being scary for a lot of people is that the very idea that someone might have a gun is terrifying. I'd like to say I get it, but I really don't. I can't understand being so scared of a man-made object, any object, that its mere proximity to it strikes you with fear.
I have things I'm a little scared of. These are things that, if you're not paying attention, can alter your body in permanent ways, and it doesn't care what you identify as one way or another. I'm not scared to be near them, just of being too ADHD at the wrong moment and injuring myself.
But guns are different. People are scared of their proximity, and now with Florida getting open carry, whether the legislature likes it or not, some are...expressing their pathetic, fear-based concerns, such as this college student.
Titled, "Student Perspective: The open carry ruling in Florida makes me feel unsafe on campus," it starts from a premise that, to me, is irrelevant, but let's get into the meat of the piece for a bit.
On Sept. 10, a Florida appeals court struck down a 40-year ban on open carry weapons as unconstitutional, and starting Sept. 26, residents will legally be able to carry their firearms openly in public–and I’m scared.
The guidelines for obtaining a firearm in Florida require you to be 21 years old for a pistol; 18 years old to buy shotguns and rifles, though discouraged. However, there are loopholes to this if those age 18 are in shooting activities or hunting. And to make matters worse, the process does not require a permit or gun training after purchase.
Though open carry is forbidden on school campuses, federal grounds and more, the fear still lingers that this proposal further weakens gun control. Not to mention Florida doesn’t have strict gun laws compared to other states, a point made by EveryTown, a gun safety and support fund, scored the state with 21 out of 100 for gun law strength.
This statistic is alarming but not surprising, as Florida’s score hasn’t improved since last year. The score is based on foundational gun laws such as permits and background checks. The fewer the restrictions, the lower the score.
I fear this decision will further normalize the amount of school shooting threats universities will get. Which makes me worry when Florida International University will be the next target, especially with the wave of real and hoax threats targeting historically Black colleges and universities, or HBCUs.
My anxiety goes through the roof when I walk on FIUs open campuses. It’s no wonder my fear is spiking, given the potential hiding spaces and easy accessibility onto campus grounds.
First, Everytown's score isn't a statistic. It's a biased ranking by an organization that is so anti-gun, the idea that they're offering gun safety training has caused some of their members to abandon the organization entirely. It's based on where a given state is with regard to Everytown's agenda, so states with more gun control but of the "wrong kinds" might rank lower than some states with fewer actual laws, but does have what Everytown prefers.
FIU apparently doesn't actually teach students what statistics actually are. This is like saying college football power rankings are statistics, rather than a subjective comparison of teams that aren't playing one another.
However, let's understand something here and now. People's fear of firearms, their "right to feel safe," does not trump my rights. That includes any mythical "right to feel safe."
I feel safer having guns, carrying them with me when I leave the house, and having access to them at home. I feel safer knowing that while I might not be in fear of my life on a regular basis, I have the capability to at least meet a potential threat and give it something to think about. I like knowing that even if I'm not successful in stopping the attack, I can be a speedbump that allows my wife and kids to escape.
If there is a right to feel some kind of way about being safe, how does this writer's so-called right trump my own?
Especially as the author acknowledges that Florida doesn't have campus carry, and there were already concealed carriers around while off campus. Guns were common enough, especially in a city the size of Miami.
So this fear is based purely on knowing that there are guns around and where they are in a given situation.
Maybe she should recognize that open carry isn't the preferred method for carrying a gun by those with violent intentions. Maybe that bizarre fact would help her sleep better at night.
After all, I'm not giving up my right to keep and bear arms so she doesn't have to live in abject terror because an inanimate object is in her proximity.
