Concealed Carry on Campus
Your guide to self-defense, should you ever be allowed to defend yourself
Newbaum Turk
Issue date: 1/23/08 Section: News
So You Have Your Permit
Congratulations, you have the right to leave your gun at home! Seriously, check out this list: you cannot carry in government buildings, police stations, airports, and schools (including "safety zones", or as I like to call them "multiple-homicide zones"). You cannot carry at universities, unless it is "locked in a motor vehicle or in the process of being locked in a motor vehicle." You cannot carry in premises that dispense liquor, or any private space that posts a sign that concealed weapons are not allowed.
You can, however, carry in your car (unless you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol) as long as "the loaded handgun is in a holster secured on the person" OR "the loaded handgun is securely encased by being stored in a closed, locked glove compartment or in a case that is locked" OR "the loaded handgun is in a closed case, bag, box, or other container that is in plain sight and that has a lid, a cover, or a closing mechanism with a zipper, snap, or buckle."
The Weapon
Many considerations come into play when selecting a weapon for self-defense; how comfortable is it to shoot? Does it fit your hand properly? Is it light enough to carry all day? Should you get a revolver or a semi-automatic?
I am a big fan of revolvers because they are ultra-reliable. Its disadvantage is that it only holds 5-7 rounds (but studies show that people defending themselves rarely use more than two bullets) and it doesn't have a "safety." Semi-autos can be useful because they hold more rounds and have a wider range of calibers from which you can choose. However, the biggest factor should be your level of comfort with the weapon. You should feel in complete control so that you maximize safety and should you ever need to use it, effectiveness.
Caliber is another consideration when selecting a weapon. Bigger is not always better. For men, I recommend up to the 45ACP. For women, who typically have smaller hands and frames, 9MM or .40 is the highest comfortable caliber. Stay away from small calibers like the .22 because their stopping power is minimal.
Congratulations, you have the right to leave your gun at home! Seriously, check out this list: you cannot carry in government buildings, police stations, airports, and schools (including "safety zones", or as I like to call them "multiple-homicide zones"). You cannot carry at universities, unless it is "locked in a motor vehicle or in the process of being locked in a motor vehicle." You cannot carry in premises that dispense liquor, or any private space that posts a sign that concealed weapons are not allowed.
You can, however, carry in your car (unless you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol) as long as "the loaded handgun is in a holster secured on the person" OR "the loaded handgun is securely encased by being stored in a closed, locked glove compartment or in a case that is locked" OR "the loaded handgun is in a closed case, bag, box, or other container that is in plain sight and that has a lid, a cover, or a closing mechanism with a zipper, snap, or buckle."
The Weapon
Many considerations come into play when selecting a weapon for self-defense; how comfortable is it to shoot? Does it fit your hand properly? Is it light enough to carry all day? Should you get a revolver or a semi-automatic?
I am a big fan of revolvers because they are ultra-reliable. Its disadvantage is that it only holds 5-7 rounds (but studies show that people defending themselves rarely use more than two bullets) and it doesn't have a "safety." Semi-autos can be useful because they hold more rounds and have a wider range of calibers from which you can choose. However, the biggest factor should be your level of comfort with the weapon. You should feel in complete control so that you maximize safety and should you ever need to use it, effectiveness.
Caliber is another consideration when selecting a weapon. Bigger is not always better. For men, I recommend up to the 45ACP. For women, who typically have smaller hands and frames, 9MM or .40 is the highest comfortable caliber. Stay away from small calibers like the .22 because their stopping power is minimal.
Viewing Comments 1 - 9 of 9
Bruce A. Beatty
posted 1/30/08 @ 11:15 PM NA
Mr. Turk,
Kudos for a very good, informative article. I must, however, correct you on one very important matter.
In the article, you state that it is not legal to carry in a "gun free" or "safety" zone. (Continued…)
Newbaum Turk
posted 1/31/08 @ 4:50 PM NA
Bruce,
You are correct...the AG's publication starts off with: "The law generally forbids the carrying of a handgun in a school safety zone unless. (Continued…)
Gary Martin
posted 2/06/08 @ 4:45 AM NA
First of all let me thank you for your efforts. As a former law enforcement officer who has seen several victims who may have been able to defend themselves if they had been armed, I strongly support this and other efforts to eliminate the "No guns" zones that give all the advantages to the criminals. (Continued…)
Gary Martin
Gary Martin
posted 2/06/08 @ 6:15 AM NA
I have had a considerable number of discussions about gun free zones with an attorney who is a concealed carry expert (Ken Hanson). The truth is that there are no guns zones where you can't legally carry a gun even if you do have a permit. (Continued…)
Newbaum Turk
posted 2/09/08 @ 12:13 AM NA
Gary,
Many thanks for your comments and information. Ken Hanson has been a life saver for concealed carry in Ohio since day one. He is a well known to the NRA, the Buckeye Firearms Association, and Ohioans for Concealed Carry and does plenty of pro bono work for the cause. (Continued…)
Newbaum Turk
posted 2/15/08 @ 1:28 PM NA
From the Chicago-Tribune:
Update: A seventh person has died in the shooting, according to DeKalb County Coroner Dennis J. Miller. In addition, he released the identities of four of the victims: Daniel Parmenter, 20, of Westchester; Catalina Garcia, 20, of Cicero; Ryanne Mace, 19, of Carpentersville; and Julianna Gehant, 32, of Meridan. (Continued…)
Newbaum Turk
posted 2/15/08 @ 1:58 PM NA
From USA Today:
Push to permit guns on campus
By Marisol Bello, USA TODAY
Even before a gunman killed six people and injured more than a dozen others in a lecture hall at Northern Illinois University, a small but growing movement had been underway at universities and state legislatures to allow students, faculty and staff to carry guns on campus. (Continued…)
Karl Spaulding
posted 2/23/08 @ 2:13 PM NA
Good article, Mr. Turk.
I attended the Tactical Defense Institute for my CCW qualification training since neither my prior firearms training nor my military service were recent enough. (Continued…)
Neil Evangelista
posted 8/16/08 @ 4:28 AM NA
Paperwork, fees, and background checks to allow people to carry a side-arm? What kind of nonsense is this?
The right of self-defense is a corollary to the right to life; to deny one is to deny the other. (Continued…)
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