Sam Kooyman

To the editor:

Threats to public safety on educational institutions are more prevalent than ever with

mass shootings continuing to rise even though various laws have been passed to help address the

epidemic. The safety of students is of the utmost importance a board of trustees must consider, so

the implementation of concealed carry on campus may greatly assist in ensuring a secure

environment.

A bill signed by Governor Kasich in December of 2016 made it legal to carry a concealed

weapon at Ohio universities, but each school still retains the right to choose if firearms are

allowed on campus. Youngstown State University has elected to not allow concealed carry even

after the 2018 false alarm active shooter threat which shut down the grounds for a short period of

time.

Although police response time for shots fired and other prudent dangers is around three

minutes, most of the damage may already be done. By giving students and faculty the option to

protect themselves from unseen catastrophes, justice and peace of mind are kept intact.

While Youngstown State University is ranked one of the safest educational facilities in

Ohio, there is no telling when a threat to the student body may occur. Having firearms kept in

vehicles per university policy is not ideal in a rapid response situation. A law that has no

implications in practical use is doing no service to those faced with adversity. An active shooter

scenario is rarely predicted and having concealed carry allowed on campus may help to deter

another mass shooting.

Works Cited
 Sam Kooyman

Baus, C. D. (2016, December 19). Gov. Kasich signs SB 199 into law. Retrieved from

https://www.buckeyefirearms.org/gov-kasich-signs-sb-199-law

These Are The 10 Safest Colleges In Ohio For 2018. (2018, August 24). Retrieved from

https://www.homesnacks.net/college/safest-colleges-in-ohio/

University Policies. (2017, June 14). Retrieved from https://ysu.edu/university-policies