concealedcampus.org

On April 19, SCCC’s David Burnett spoke to the Second Amendment March in Washington DC about the importance of fighting for the right to self-defense on campus.

Click here to watch the speech
Click here to watch in hi-res

On April 5 through April 9, 2010, students from 130 colleges across the nation participated in the Empty Holster Protest, SCCC’s signature event to symbolize being defenseless and protest state laws and college policies which require being defenseless.

(Click here to see the list of participating colleges.)

The event and resulting discussions received widespread media coverage both locally and nationally.

Locally, in states from Colorado, Virginia, Oklahoma and Michigan to places such as Illinois, Connecticut, Kansas and Texas.

Nationally, SCCC and the protest were featured in articles from World Net Daily, Human Events, The Christian Science Monitor, The Weekly Standard and even a mention in the disaster preparedness magazine Firestorm.

Participation even spilled over onto the floor of the Arizona state senate, where Senator Jack Harper wore an empty holster on the senate floor in an expression of solidarity with Students for Concealed Carry on Campus.

Elsewhere, Dr. John Lott spoke at Texas A&M on behalf of SCCC, safety classes were held at various colleges across the country, and in Virginia, hundreds of people took advantage of online legal and safety training provided free of charge through SCCC and American Firearms Training.

The same predictable responses issued forth from the emotionally-driven anti-defense crowd. Predictably, the Brady Campaign ignored SCCC’s call for respect and continued its pattern of victim exploitation, figuratively standing on the coffins of the dead to decry SCCC’s drive for self-defense on campus.

The Truth About Guns even took time to smear SCCC on their website with multiple inaccuracies and outright fabrications. Ill-informed and illogical editorialists nationwide persist in their fanciful campaign of fearmongering.

Heedless of the facts, these critics continue to prey on fears by insisting that self-defense on campus would increase the risks to campus patrons.

Of course, these are the same critics who just months ago claimed SCCC had failed and momentum was against concealed carry on campus. They’re the same ones now having to confront major SCCC victories in Colorado, Michigan, Texas and Pennsylvania, and having to face the reality that momentum does not favor lawfully-armed citizens being disarmed simply for stepping across the invisible boundary of a college campus.

SCCC would like to thank everyone for participating in the protest and taking valuable time to labor in the cause. Don’t forget to sign up for our e-mail newsletter, and make plans to attend the 2011 Empty Holster Protest!

Sometimes a gentle nudge is all it takes to effect social change. Sometimes it requires a District Court of Appeals ruling. Either way, one change can touch off a domino effect, rippling throughout a whole state and eventually an entire nation.

Following the appeals court ruling in Colorado which favored Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC), and pressure from the Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, Colorado State University rescinded its intended ban of lawful concealed carry.

“They didn’t have a legal leg to stand on,” said Dudley Brown, Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners. “We told them in January, in no uncertain terms, that state law did not allow them to create their own gun ban. Unfortunately, it took a lawsuit to force them to back down.”

“We’ve already seen that concealed carry works on campus,” said David Burnett, spokesman for SCCC. “It doesn’t harm anyone, and if criminals don’t know who could fight back, it makes them think twice about attacking anyone on campus. It’s unfortunate that the change required a legal threat, but we know it’s the right move and we’re glad CSU backed down from their imprudent decision.”

The Coloradoan notes that the college saw the writing on the wall; faced with a costly legal challenge with a dim hope of victory, rescinding the ban was seen as the best option.

But WAIT, there’s MORE!

The Colorado Community College System has now followed suit and modified their policies to permit concealed carry on campus!

The system consists of 13 community colleges, including: Arapahoe Community College, Colorado Northwestern Community College, Community College of Aurora, Community College of Denver, Front Range Community College, Lamar Community College, Morgan Community College, Northeastern Junior College, Otero Junior College, Pikes Peak Community College, Pueblo Community College, Red Rocks Community College and Trinidad State Junior College.

Another local paper reports the Board of Trustees at Aims Community College, which includes three campuses, will institute a change to allow concealed carry.

This means that the number of colleges allowing licensed concealed carry in the United States has more than doubled in the past week!

Naturally, critics and skeptics align against the move, but statistics have already shown concealed carry does not increase risks to campus patrons, and may actually reduce them. Students, law enforcement and parents all support continuing and expanding the successful policy of allowing legally authorized students, faculty and staff to defend themselves on campus.

SCCC wishes to thank Jim Manley for his hard work, the Rocky Mountain Gun Owners for their cooperation and efforts, and all the students, parents, faculty and staff for their labor and support.

For media inquiries, please contact David Burnett or in Colorado, contact Jim Manley.