2008 Woodie Awards
Group calls for concealed weapons
Some students want guns on campus
Steve Mullis
Issue date: 10/26/07 Section: News
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A group of UCF students is calling for a change to allow students and faculty to carry concealed weapons on campus.
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, a student-led organization, voiced its idea this past week. They were joined nationally in the effort as students showing support for the group by wore empty gun holsters on campus.
The goal of the SCCC is to change legislation that would allow individuals who are legally licensed to carry concealed firearms to do so on college campuses, something that is currently forbidden at most colleges.
Chris Brown, a University of Texas political science major, started the organization in the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy in April 2007.
Since its creation, the group has grown to over 6,200 members nationwide, said SCCC media coordinator W. Scott Lewis.
"The issue of campus gun bans is something that has irked concealed handgun license holders for years," Lewis said, "but it took a tragedy like Virginia Tech to rally so many like-minded individuals together."
Joe Culotta, a 22-year-old management major, is SCCC's representative at UCF.
"One thing I want to make clear is that we don't want every student to be able to carry on campus," Culotta said. "We only want those that have earned concealed weapons permits."
Currently in Florida you must be 21, be able to demonstrate competency with a firearm and be a U.S. citizen to get a permit. You can also be deemed ineligible for a number of reasons, including a felony conviction, a conviction for a misdemeanor crime of violence in the last three years or two or more DUI convictions within the last three years.
These rules, Culotta said, are what people need to understand about concealed carry permits.
"I don't think people realize that when you go to the mall or out in public, there are people carrying guns," Culotta said.
Lewis said that, on average, one out of 100 people we pass on a daily basis is licensed to carry a concealed handgun.
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, a student-led organization, voiced its idea this past week. They were joined nationally in the effort as students showing support for the group by wore empty gun holsters on campus.
The goal of the SCCC is to change legislation that would allow individuals who are legally licensed to carry concealed firearms to do so on college campuses, something that is currently forbidden at most colleges.
Chris Brown, a University of Texas political science major, started the organization in the wake of the Virginia Tech tragedy in April 2007.
Since its creation, the group has grown to over 6,200 members nationwide, said SCCC media coordinator W. Scott Lewis.
"The issue of campus gun bans is something that has irked concealed handgun license holders for years," Lewis said, "but it took a tragedy like Virginia Tech to rally so many like-minded individuals together."
Joe Culotta, a 22-year-old management major, is SCCC's representative at UCF.
"One thing I want to make clear is that we don't want every student to be able to carry on campus," Culotta said. "We only want those that have earned concealed weapons permits."
Currently in Florida you must be 21, be able to demonstrate competency with a firearm and be a U.S. citizen to get a permit. You can also be deemed ineligible for a number of reasons, including a felony conviction, a conviction for a misdemeanor crime of violence in the last three years or two or more DUI convictions within the last three years.
These rules, Culotta said, are what people need to understand about concealed carry permits.
"I don't think people realize that when you go to the mall or out in public, there are people carrying guns," Culotta said.
Lewis said that, on average, one out of 100 people we pass on a daily basis is licensed to carry a concealed handgun.