The UF debate team and a pro-gun student group faced off Tuesday, arguing about whether students and faculty should be allowed to discretely carry weapons on campus.
At a debate sponsored by Students for Concealed Carry at UF and the UF Speech and Debate Team, some argued that allowing guns at UF would threaten campus safety, while others said guns would enhance safety.
The campus carry question first entered the public eye when Florida House Bill 0163, which would allow licensed gun owners to carry weapons on university campuses, was filed in Sept. 2015. The bill eventually failed.
Gloria Li, a 19-year-old UF environmental science sophomore, said she would be uncomfortable walking through campus knowing someone could be carrying a weapon.
“It doesn’t take an Omar Mateen to wreak havoc with a gun,” she said. “It takes any disgruntled student with a temper.”
But in contrast, Bridget Sullivan, a UF nutritional sciences freshman, said a lack of training or protection can turn students into victims.
As a female college student facing the threat of sexual assault or robbery, the 18-year-old would feel safer if she were allowed to carry a weapon, she said.
“I should not have to be fearful when walking after dusk,” Sullivan said. “I should not have to place my safety in the hands of a bottle of pepper spray, a whistle or another device which would provide me with a false sense of protection.”
Dennis Callaghan, 19, who judged the debate, voted in favor of the pro-carry side, partially because some of their members’ arguments could not be effectively rebutted.
One such argument pointed out Florida already allows concealed carry in public areas. Because it is usual for students to feel uncomfortable off campus, legalizing campus carry should have no bearing on their perceived safety, he said.
“It was a fairly good argument since most of the negative points centered around comfort,” the UF mathematics sophomore said. “(But) no one walks off campus and feels the weight of concealed carry.”
From left: Bridget Sullivan, an 18-year-old UF nutritional sciences freshman, defends concealed carry on campus as Gloria Li, a 19-year-old UF environmental science sophomore, cross-examines. The Campus Carry Debate event was hosted by Students for Concealed Carry at UF and the UF Speech and Debate Team.
