In the wake of the slaughter at the Navy Shipyard, one area student has developed a better appreciation for some of the unintended condequences of gun control laws:

Jarred Stancil, an international affairs sophomore at George Washington University, wants campus police officers to carry more than pepper spray and handcuffs. In the wake of the recent Navy Yard shooting, he wants them armed with guns.

The Washington, D.C.-based George Washington University is an urban campus where off-campus/non-GW property buildings are considered “on campus.”

He writes in The Hatchet campus newspaper:

In the wake of Monday’s tragic shooting at Navy Yard, many people have rallied in favor of stricter gun laws, as is typically the case. While immediately denouncing gun ownership and supporting tighter regulations might seem like the clear position to take after a shooting of this magnitude, the solution for the District – and our campus – is quite the opposite.

The District has some of the most stringent gun laws in the country, barring people from carrying concealed or open firearms, so you would think that we should feel safe and secure within the confines of the Beltway. Clearly, we are not. A man with a long history of mental instability was able to transport a shotgun through the city, gain access to a gun-free military base and open fire on a crowd of people, killing 12.

But if District authorities won’t allow their residents to carry guns to defend themselves, at the very least, trained law enforcement officials must be equipped with guns to protect us. For GW students, that means the University Police Department, where officers don’t carry much more than pepper spray and handcuffs.

UPD has recently talked of expanding its authority to break up loud parties outside of GW campus boundaries. But it’s turning away from its primary mission: ensuring safety. Instead, UPD should focus its efforts on keeping students safe on campus by petitioning for the right to bear arms.

… Remember, UPD officers are real members of the police force with the responsibility to make arrests and enforce order. These aren’t mall cops. Of course, GW should ensure the highest standard of training and institute strict standards to regulate which officers to arm.

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