As the attacks between Hilary Clinton and Donald Trump intensify, the recent shootings in Baton Rouge, Dallas and Orlando have put the spotlight on three issues that divide democrats and republicans: gun legislation, same-sex marriage and immigration. Though gun control is currently widely debated, more attention needs to be given to the laws that allow concealed weapons on college campuses. Kansas is just the latest state to allow guns at state universities.
Orlando, Dallas, Boston, New York City, Chicago, Los Angeles―all have international name recognition, but until the Baton Rouge shooting a couple days ago many people would probably have struggled if asked to locate Kansas City on a map (the shooter is reported to have grown up in Kansas City). Yet in the past few years, KC has been a stomping ground where companies such as Google and Chipotle have tested their innovative ideas. Conversely, the city has also been turned into a “laboratory for conservative economic policies”. This is how Seth Meyers described the state of KS in “A Closer Look” back in March.
In 2012 thanks to governor Brownback, Kansas underwent massive income tax cuts which in turn created a budget deficit. Over time these cuts have taken a toll on schools and universities, as Brownback continuously decreases funding for education to try to balance the books. Several months ago the Kansas Supreme Court ruled that the Legislature’s financing scheme was unconstitutional. Yet the Kansas legislature seems to have zero regard for education and little respect for it’s teachers. Rather than figure out how to invest in youth, republicans routinely support careless gun legislation. By July 2017, all students at the University of Kansas will be allowed to carry concealed weapons despite overwhelming disapproval by the state’s administrators, professors and students.
Though the mass shooting in Orlando last month did not occur at a university campus, it solidified my belief that guns should not be allowed on a university campus. More than a physical institution, a university campus is a place where students are taught about other cultures and other ways of seeing the world. In the humanities they are taught that being different whether it be due to sexual orientation, religion, or ethnicity is not a crime. In their biology class they are taught how to interpret evidence that supports evolution and global warming. Most importantly, across disciplines students are taught to base their conclusions on evidence and facts, not prejudices.
Students are also taught that ideas and words can be just as hurtful as weapons. Even in light of the recent attacks, Donald Trump, the republican nominee continues to make bigoted statements about immigration and religion. The shootings in Orlando, Dallas and Baton Rouge are a reminder of the importance of the upcoming presidential election. The democratic party does not discriminate against sexuality or religious beliefs, and it supports responsible gun ownership. Republicans like Brownback, Pence and Trump on the other hand don’t support same-sex marriage or an America where diversity is an asset not a threat.
In an interview on CNN, one of the victims from the Orlando shooting described gay bars as safe-havens. For many students, schools and universities are also safe-havens. Guns do not make schools safer. If we want to make our communities safer we need to invest in programs for at risk youth and in early childhood education. We need to have classroom discussions about racism and privilege. Whether you are a police officer, gay, black or an immigrant, every human life matters. As Hilary Clinton stated in her speech on “Unity in Divided U.S.” we need to be more than allies to each other. We need to take on each other’s struggles as our own. Ultimately, if we want to make our communities safer we need to promote tolerance. Tolerance starts with education.