National Collegiate Empty Holster Protest - October 22-26

[Douva]

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Press Release - National Collegiate Empty Holster Protest – Students for Concealed Carry on College Campuses – ConcealedCampus.com

On April 16, 2007, twenty-seven students and five faculty members at Virginia Tech lost their lives to a madman who possessed one distinct advantage over his victims—He wasn’t concerned with following the rules. Undeterred by Virginia Tech’s status as a “gun free zone,� this mentally unstable individual carried two handguns onto the university campus and indiscriminately opened fire.

During the week of October 22-26, 2007, college students throughout America will attend classes wearing empty holsters, in protest of state laws and campus policies that stack the odds in favor of armed killers by disarming law abiding citizens who are licensed to carry concealed handguns virtually everywhere else.

In thirty-nine U.S. states, thousands of collegiate students and faculty—age twenty-one and above—are licensed to carry concealed handguns throughout their day-to-day lives. And they do so without incident. However, despite the absence of any compelling evidence that these licensed individuals might pose any more threat to college campuses than they do to office buildings, shopping malls, movie theaters, grocery stores, banks, etc., they are currently prohibited, either by state law or school policy, from carrying their firearms onto most college campuses. On October 22 these students, through their Empty Holster Protest, will ask for a change.

In the last twenty years, the vast majority of the mass shootings in America—from the Texas Luby’s massacre to the Columbine High School massacre—have happened in “gun free zones.� Labeling an area “gun free� may make some people feel safer, but as the shootings at Virginia Tech taught us, feeling safe and being safe are not the same thing.

For over a year, state law in Utah has allowed licensed individuals to carry concealed handguns on college campuses. This has yet to result in a single act of violence. Numerous studies, including studies by John Lott, David Mustard, William Sturdevant, and state justice departments, show that license holders are five times less likely than non-license holders to be arrested for violent crimes. Clearly, license holders pose little threat to college campuses.

While some may argue that guns have no place in institutions of higher learning, the students of the Empty Holster Protest contend that it is the threat of uncontested, execution-style massacre that has no place on America’s college campuses, and these students respectfully ask that steps be taken to take the advantage away from those who seek to harm the innocent.

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T-shirts are now available for anyone wishing to support the Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC) empty holster protest.

http://www.shirtmagic.com/shop/concealedcampus

Please note that these shirts are being sold at cost. Nobody but the print shop makes a profit from them.

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The Group: http://www.concealedcampus.com

The Group's Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=2383535699

The Protest: http://www.douva.com/sccc/press.htm

The Protest's Facebook Page: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=2359003596

The T-Shirt: http://www.shirtmagic.com/shop/concealedcampus

FAQ: http://concealedcampus.org/faq.htm

Answers to Concerns: http://www.douva.com/sccc/arguments.htm

[waltherone]

So I'm confused. Are they gonna wear OWB holsters (or IWB with shirts tucked in?)

I would assume... but just checking. I'll have to decide which holster to wear empty that day :)

[WarHawk-AVG]

Shoot...I would wear an empty shoulder rig..just cause!

Man..those shirts are cool

[Douva]

So I'm confused. Are they gonna wear OWB holsters (or IWB with shirts tucked in?)

I would assume... but just checking. I'll have to decide which holster to wear empty that day :)

They're basically wearing whatever they have available--Visibility is the key. Granted, wearing open carry holsters to support concealed carry is a little confusing, but the idea is to emphasize that the current laws disarm law abiding citizens, leaving them vulnerable to violent criminals.

People who don't have holsters or who don't want to wear holsters can simply wear the T-shirts.

[WarHawk-AVG]

unfortunately..kids in Kalifornia would be suspended for wearing a shirt like that...I would almost bet money on it!

[Douva]

unfortunately..kids in Kalifornia would be suspended for wearing a shirt like that...I would almost bet money on it!

High school students anywhere could potentially be suspended for wearing a shirt like that, but this protest centers on college campuses, and most colleges have very little control over the dress or appearance of their students.

[Liberty]

Its a brilliant idea, There was a political party meeting last year on the campus of the U of H. Of course its off limits for legal CHL carry and only cops and criminals are allowed to carry. One of the party wore his holster empty but exposed. Of course some thought it was odd and asked him about it. He went on to informed those who asked it was his protest, and he didn't like being at a place where he couldn't protect himself and those whom he loved. He went on to explain all about CHL and what it means.

Whats funny though for some reason an empty holster is more conspicuous than a stuffed one and gathers more attention

[Thane]

Whats funny though for some reason an empty holster is more conspicuous than a stuffed one and gathers more attention

As many folks have noticed, a good holster with a good gun in it tends to make people assume (mistakenly or not) that the person carrying it is with law enforcement. An empty holster just seems.... wrong, off, improper. While openly carried firearms DO attract attention, an empty holster not only attracts attention but raises questions and confusion. It's a highly visible route of protest.

Makes me wish I was a college student, so I could take part.

[WarHawk-AVG]

I would like to, but I am still making up my mind about doing this.

Debating on the school forums is one thing, but risking your college career over confusion and possible charges of terroristic threats being pressed against you by an insane liberal school administrator (worst case scenario) is another.

Yeah, most likely not going to happen, especially at shsu, but.. still....

How is an empty holster a terroristic threat? Would someone with pepper spray on their keychain actually be MORE dangerous than someone with a molded hunk of leather strapped to their hip?

[Venus Pax]

I would like to, but I am still making up my mind about doing this.

Debating on the school forums is one thing, but risking your college career over confusion and possible charges of terroristic threats being pressed against you by an insane liberal school administrator (worst case scenario) is another.

Yeah, most likely not going to happen, especially at shsu, but.. still....

How is an empty holster a terroristic threat? Would someone with pepper spray on their keychain actually be MORE dangerous than someone with a molded hunk of leather strapped to their hip?

I don't think Russell is saying that these types are reasonable. I can't help but wonder if some people aren't creating "witch hunts" out of this terrorism-watch business. There are certainly people in this country that would interpret an empty holster as a threat.

[chewy555]

I wish that I was still in college. I know that I would wear a holster that week. I think that the people who thought of this did a good job. Lets all hope and pray that it works to make a change in the law.

[Douva]

I would like to, but I am still making up my mind about doing this.

Debating on the school forums is one thing, but risking your college career over confusion and possible charges of terroristic threats being pressed against you by an insane liberal school administrator (worst case scenario) is another.

Yeah, most likely not going to happen, especially at shsu, but.. still....

Participants are encouraged to send registered or certified letters to their campus police and administrators, notifying them of the protest, so as to avoid any such confusion.

And if you're still nervous about wearing a holster around campus, you can always wear one of the T-shirts, instead.

http://shirtmagic.com/shop/concealedcampus

[HEMIzygote]

I will be wearing my empty holster to class. I might raise more of an issue being on the teaching side of the class room, but I read the employee crap and it said nothing about not being able to participate in rallys and marches.

I hope I raise some questions being the fact that none of my lectures seat less than 400 students. I think I will even write a note on the board in the corner stating it and welcome all students to participate aswell.