A bit back I mentioned that an Idaho State Senator who had submitted legislation that could have opened the way to licensed concealed carry on Idaho campuses was strongarmed by the Republican Governor and the university administrators into pulling his bill.
So, what have the universities come up with that they think is better for protecting the boys and girls on the campuses of Idaho? Here’s a list from this morning’s Boise paper
Boise State University has beefed up security following the Virginia Tech shootings, here is how:
- Outfitted the bell tower atop the administration building with a public address system that can notify people of emergencies.
- Created an instant-messaging system that splashes warning or emergency information on all campus-linked computers.
- Increased the number of blue-light emergency kiosks where people can call campus security. Additional kiosks are near new parking garages and elsewhere on campus.
- Contracted with the Department of Homeland Security to conduct a threat analysis at BSU.
- Is considering creating an administrative-level job of security chief to heighten the importance of security.
College of Idaho has:
- Installed a siren on campus for use in life-threatening emergencies.
- Will notify students of emergencies by voice mail or text messaging on their cell phone.
A PA system in the tower? A siren? Blue light kiosks and another big title, salaried desk job? And text messages on my cell phone?
shooter run away
or maybe
kiz az gbye
Ok, fine. We feel so good now. We are enlightened, and oh so much more civilized than the bubbas who think we should all be carrying guns. We can study in complete safety, protected in the “gun free zone”, surrounded by PA systems, sirens, Homeland Security threat evaluations, and knowing deep in my heart that my phone will instantly alert me with a text message to the fact that some suicidal nutcase just walked into my lecture hall and is shooting at me. Peace Love Dove, man.
I find it interesting that this was the sidebar piece in the printed edition to this article that essentially says the whole text message idea is not being well received by college students. No! You mean, the kids aren’t buying the BS? Well, good for them! Now if we could only get them to take the next step, which is realizing that THEY are responsible for their own protection and self defense. Not the Governor, not the University President, or Campus Security, or the Boise City PD… in the best of all worlds, the cops are minutes away, often more. To think that the Governor and the college administrators can somehow protect the campus from armed wackos with a bunch of lowtech nonsense and text messaging is pompous absurdity at best, and criminally negligent at worst. I wonder how they’ll do if a couple of bereaved families decide to file a civil lawsuit against one of these colleges after a shooting? Any guesses?
Unarmed students in “gun free zones” are helpless sitting ducks. Armed citizens are not. When will we as a society decide to take the steps that will allow ALL citizens, students and teachers alike, to make the personal decision to no longer be helpless sheep, and to take their own defense into their own hands? How much different would the outcome be in that Utah mall, or the Colorado church, or in yesterday’s Israeli yeshiva attack, if there had not been an armed and trained sheepdog close by, ready, willing, and able to take down the shooters? Think about it… what makes more sense during a shooting, reaching into your bag for a weapon to defend yourself, or for your cell phone to take a text message from your bff Butch? Just asking.
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