Student organization pushes for students to be allowed to carry weapons at SRU
Partisan politics threatened to derail a discussion Saturday hosted at Slippery Rock University by the College Republicans club.
SRU students and the surrounding community were invited the Campus Carry Reform Rally to discuss the student organization's desire to allow firearms to be carried on campus. The club's president, Brian McLaughlin, also invited Internet-viral sensation Kaitlin Bennett, which drew criticism from some of attendees.
The Zanesville, Ohio-native and Kent State University graduate gained national attention and a following after posting a photograph of herself on Kent State's campus with a gun slung on her back and a graduation cap reading “COME AND TAKE IT” in her call for students to be allowed carry weapons on college campuses.
Several dozen people attended Saturday's event, including many nonstudents, to hear State Senator Aaron Bernstine and Slippery Rock Mayor Jondavid Longo discuss their support for legislation that would allow anyone to openly carry loaded firearms on Slippery Rock's campus. Bernstine announced his plans to introduce state legislation to open Pennsylvania schools up to guns.
Longo supported the effort, citing his concern that Slippery Rock University might be the site shooting similar to the 2007 attack on Virginia Tech, where an undergraduate killed 32 people and wounded 23. He said the legislation could help the college avoid such a tragedy.
“There was no good guy with a gun to stop the bad guy with a gun,” Longo said. “Let's face it, there won't always be someone with a badge and gun around to protect us. The constitution allows us to protect ourselves and each other.”
To read more about the discussion, including what people had to say about Kaitlin Bennett's presence, pick up Monday's Butler Eagle or subscribe online.
