First off – I sure hope you’re not referring to me with the “alarmist BS” line.
Well, it wasn't directed at you but stating that I should "hope" that you didn't doesn't fly with me either. You can type whatever you want, within the rules and so can I. I can state that its "alarmist BS" and its my opinion. Stating that I should "hope" that you didn't take it personally is walking right up to the line of making a threat.
Anyway. Let’s look at it this way:
Kid passes every test and background check and gets a CHL, CCW, whatever….
Kid has his gun in his backpack when some nut-bag comes into the room armed to the teeth and attempts to start killing other students.
Kid pulls out his gun and drops the nut-bag before he gets a shot off.
Kid wakes up the next day a national hero.
(I’m all for that story, BTW.)
-or-
Kid wakes up the night before to the sound of gun shots. It seems that some other members of his frat house got drunk, found his gun and just “accidentally” (they just wanted to scare him) shot some kid from another frat coming over to TP their house. Other kids parents sue the sh-t out of the school for allowing this to happen…
Kinda tough to sue the school for following state and federal laws.... In some respects it would actually alleviate the schools responsibility.
-or-
Something related to “Thank God that wonderful man had a gun and put a stop to the madness….”
-or-
Well. Bottom line. If he didn’t have that gun….
-or-
I see your point well however I can tell you from experience that guns are on campus already. Legally or not. There were 4 or 5 in my fraternity alone, wasn't legal then or now. Then again, they didn't go to class but the nearby range before it closed.
You are correct that lots of things can happen when guns are present, some bad. One of the better things about CCW is that it does allow a modicum of control over who is allowed. Usually 21 and older, extensively background checked and usually required to train or show proficiency. Generally the CCW holder is pretty responsible and locks/secures weapons. Generally. The "illegal" guns are still there. Some are owned by college students that like to shoot. I'm sure some are owned by idiots that think its "cool" But the statistics do not bear out that there is a major problem here.
Well…that list of stories can go on forever.
And for every -or- that anyone can add to it, either good ending or bad. Someone can always add one to the contrary. That’s all I’m saying. It’s not all cut and dry.
I agree with what you’ve said. I like your story. But you said yourself: “Let’s look at it this way:” If that’s how we look at it fine. I hope I’m in the class with you. I hope we can triangulate the MF and one of us gets a clear shot. After the CNN interview, I’ll buy the first round at the bar.
As for VT. Yep – Sure would have been nice if someone had a gun in there besides the nut-bag.
But how/who/why/etc. we get a gun in there isn’t as cut and dry as some might think. That’s all I’m saying. If it were that cut and dry. It would have been cut and dried some time ago.
“My original comments revolved around simply allowing CCW permit holders to carry in more places, like universities…”
From recent events, I can certainly see your point. And, I agree.
But how are we (PLEASE NOTE THAT I SAID: “WE”) going to deal with the irate parents who wont send their kids to a school that’s a melting pot of people, some of whom can legally walk around on, as well as live on, get drunk on, live in groups on, with a gun? (This picture gets much bigger, quite quickly btw.)
I suppose some parents will react that way. Their kids will attend Berkley 
. Again, even with CCW allowed the number of people doing so would likely be quite small. In addition as I have stated above people including the parents and their kids already live in an armed society. Some legally and some not. Thinking that a "gun free zone" is worth anything more than the sign would make them less than intelligent.
Sadly – This can go ‘round and ‘round forever.
Like has been said above. The trick is figuring out some sort of "law abiding citizens” formula. Somewhere in the formula also lies the “factors of large groups” formula and the “every scenario is different” formula. Once we get the formulas down, only then can the proper changes/laws/procedures be made that keep the masses happy.
You are correct. It is sad. The CCW mechanism is already in place and it appears to work everywhere else. Should also work on campuses. Maybe the school administration should be notified of the CCW and no resident of dormitories allowed to keep weapons? I can see where securing the weapon could prove problematic in a dorm situation. Most 21year olds don't live in dorms anyway.
edit:
Until then – Both extremist parties can bang their heads on the wall all they want.
I’ve got better things to do with my head (either one), so I’m not going to join either.