For Nathaniel Sheetz, campus security comes in the form of a concealed firearm.
"The police can't respond fast enough to stop a shooter in a situation like Virginia Tech and Northern Illinois University," Sheetz said. "The only people able to shorten an attack like that is someone who is already on site and able to defend themselves."
Throughout the week, Sheetz (graduate-industrial engineering) will be leading the second "National Empty Holster Protest" on campus. Sheetz said "several dozen" students will wear empty holsters in protest of campus gun regulations.
The university prohibits firearms of any kind within campus boundaries, including knives larger than a pocketknife, paintball guns and markers, and explosives, among other prohibited items, according to university Policy SY12.
Sheetz's group, Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, intends to urge campuses nationwide to allow equal concealed firearm restrictions both on- and off-campus. This is the second national "Empty Holster Protest" this year, and its goal is to further educate those uninformed about gun laws, according to its Web site, concealedcampus.org
Penn State spokeswoman
Lisa Powers said she sees no
need for more guns on campus.
"To date I can't think of an incident where they pulled it out and stopped one of these tragedies from occurring," Powers said. "They happen in seconds, and there's not a lot that can be done to stop a deranged person in a matter of seconds."
Sheetz will pass out fliers at a table sponsored by Young Americans for Freedom in Findlay Commons until tomorrow and then plans to have a table at the HUB-Robeson Center.
Ahmed Awadelkarim (freshman-mechanical engineering) walked by the table yesterday and approached Addison Brandt (freshman-neuroscience), who was passing out fliers with Sheetz. Awadelkarim shook his head and later said he isn't in favor of concealed firearms, let alone on a college campus.
"It's a little ridiculous considering past events," Awadelkarim said.
Other students were supportive of Sheetz's group and pledged support on a sign-up sheet.
"I just think that guns are an important right for people to have," William McGrotty (freshman-civil engineering) said after signing the sheet. "Just because you're in a certain place you shouldn't have your rights infringed upon."
Despite protests, Penn State remains steadfast in its policy that no firearms should be allowed on campus.
"I don't think that more hidden guns on campus make more people feel safer, especially if they're held by people with limited training," Powers said.
Sheetz disagrees with the university's stance and said anyone who takes the time to get a firearm would take it seriously. However, Sheetz said he would also accept further weapons training from Penn State if they allowed concealed weapons.
"We're not necessarily opposed to the university saying, 'Hey, if you're going to carry a gun on campus, you need to take a training course,' " Sheetz said.
But Powers said Penn State fears guns could only make people feel more insecure.
"Do you want someone sitting next to you with a gun?" Powers said. "Lethal weapons just don't belong in schools."
