VU debate attracts large audience

vu-debate-from-feb-9

Vincennes University faculty members William Gollmitzer, professor of Law Enforcement, and Lou Caprino, chair of the Homeland Security program, listen as their debate opponents speak on  “Should faculty members carry firearms on college campuses?”

With gun violence escalating on college campuses should faculty be allowed to carry concealed weapons. that was the topic of a debate held on the vincennes university campus this morning.

Todd Schroer, Chairman of the sociology, anthropology and criminal justice department at the University of Southern Indiana spoke in opposition to arming faculty. Schroer believes it will only lead to more violence.

Schroer added that there is no documented evidence that indicates arming faculty will act as a deterrent to gun violence. In fact Schroer, argued that students are probably less apt to be victims of gun violence while living on campus.

But William Gollmizter, Director of V-U’s Law Enforcement program says statistics show otherwise. Over the last three years, Gollmitzer says there have been 73 campus shootings leaving 26-people dead and 48 injured.

Gollmitzer isn’t advocating that every faculty person should be allowed to carry a gun. He believes it should be voluntary and in cooperation with local police departments.

Gollmitzer says as a faculty person he wants to have the ability to defend himself and protect his students if confronted.

Tuesday’s debate was sponsored by V-U’s Center for Research and Learning. WVUT TV will rebroadcast the gun debate Saturday night at 8 pm following 22-Magazine.

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