Last night, Charles Jones pulled a gun and two knives out from beneath his suit as he stood before about 40 students in Wartik Lab.

The gun was a fake, and the knives were used strictly for demonstrative purposes.

As part of Take Back Your Rights, an event hosted by the Penn State Young Americans for Freedom (YAF), Jones, a lifetime National Rifle Association (NRA) member, told audience members to carry concealed weapons.

"What value do you place on your life?" Jones asked the audience. "It's all right to be a little paranoid, because they are out to get you."

While Jones spoke, NRA representative Jim Johnson distributed NRA pamphlets to audience members.

YAF President Shauna Moser said in an interview earlier this week that Take Back Your Rights was held in response to last week's Take Back the Night march and rally. She said Take Back the Night is not a proactive way for women to counter sexual violence, and women should instead carry handguns and learn self-defense methods.

"Firearms are the great equalizer," Jones said during his speech. "A 105-pound women doesn't stand a chance against a large man."

Jones said carrying a weapon is the best method of protection for people because police are only required to help citizens in certain situations, such as a court order.

Jones also discussed Penn State policy that prohibits students from carrying concealed weapons on campus.

"Ask your administrators, instructors, and your president if they carry firearms," he said. "I would guess that yes, they do. Ask them why they throw impediments in front of you."

During a question-and-answer period, Jones fielded questions from the audience, which often times launched into heated debates.

Some audience members asked what would happen if guns landed in the hands of the wrong people.

Jones said citizens of Pennsylvania must earn a permit before legally purchasing a gun.

However, he said gun owners are not required to undergo training after earning a permit, and added that he does not believe they should have to be trained.

Audience member Katie Kruegler (freshman-psychology) asked Jones about the detrimental effect guns can have on people.

"What if they get into the hands of children?" Kruegler asked. "What if I carry a gun, and the assailant overpowers me and hurts me with the gun?"

Jones seemed flustered at the questions, and asked Kruegler if she was "a plant" sent to counter his argument.

He concluded his argument by citing statistics that show locations that allow concealed weapons, such as Vermont, have lower crime rates than locations that do not, such as Washington, D.C.

"More guns, less crime," he said.

After the event, some students commented on their impression of Jones' presentation.

Laura Maynard (freshman-landscape architecture) said she came to the event to learn more about self-protection.

"It was really informative," Maynar said. "They taught people how to get proper training and shared some techniques about how to conceal guns."

Sporting a green "NRA" baseball cap, Adam Kennett (senior-political science and philosophy) said he was a full supporter of gun possession.

"I believe strongly the right to keep and bear arms," he said. "I believe Penn State should follow state law and allow students to carry guns."

However, Kruegler said she was not impressed.

"It was useless," she said. "Questions were not answered. It was supposed to be about protection for women, but he only talked about that for about three minutes."