Western Journal – by Randy DeSoto
Six months after adopting concealed carry of firearms on campus, the University of Kansas found that the crime rate dropped and there have been zero weapons violations.
The Lawrence Journal-World reported that “crime decreased 13 percent, with 671 criminal offenses reported to KU police in 2017 compared to 770 incidents in 2016, according to a news release from the KU Office of Public Safety.”
The newspaper added there have been no weapons’ violations on campus in 2017, while there had been 14 reported since 2008 up to that point.
KU prepared for the addition of campus carry being implemented last July by adding three additional security officers to patrol busy areas on campus, as well as portable metal detectors.
Kansas state law only allows those who are 21 or older to conceal carry. On itswebsite, the university notes that 59 percent of students are younger than 21.
Dudley Brown, president of the National Association of Gun Rights, believes there is a causal relationship between the drop in crime rate and permitting concealed carry on campus.
“There’s no doubt that allowing citizens — especially women — to carry the tools for self-defense makes criminals think twice,” he told The Western Journal.
Campus carry advocate Antonia Okafor shares that view, tweeting that KU is “showing the world how #campuscarry is done.”
“Antonia, your advocacy kills more people. There is no way promoting more guns on campus can EVER equal less violence!!”
Yes, unless the people behind those guns are law-abiding citizens. Thank you Kansas for showing the world how #campuscarry is done https://t.co/dRWp6BjDXv
— Antonia Okafor Cover (@antonia_okafor) March 4, 2018
According to the National Conference on State Legislatures, as of July 2017, eight states allow concealed carry weapons on college campuses.
Meanwhile, 23 states leave the decision up to the individual universities, and 16 states outright ban guns on campuses.
The number of concealed carry permits in the United States rose significantly during the last decade, while the murder rate declined.
Citing statistics from the Crime Prevention Research Center, the National Rifle Association tweeted that between 2007 and 2015, the number of concealed carry permit holders increased by 215 percent, while the murder rate dropped 14 percent and the violent crime rate fell 21 percent.