Arrogance of Authority

Who's safety is more important?  The safety of the public, or the safety of the police who supposedly protect the public?  According to Purdue University police chief John Cox, it's his officers.

The Indiana state senate has a bill in committee that would allow concealed carry on the state's universities.  The Lafayette Journal and Courier, Campus Gun Law, reports Cox thinks it's a bad idea.

Allowing guns on campus “really creates more problems for us,” said John Cox, police chief at Purdue. He said the presence of guns on campus would create a more dangerous environment for police, including making it more difficult to police student parties where alcohol is served and underage drinking can occur.

“We don’t have to worry about (the fact that) several people could be armed,” Cox said. “It creates a safer environment when you go around knowing that the only people who should have guns on campus are police.”

Arrogance comes in all shapes, sizes and belief systems.  But generally speaking it is rooted in thinking more of ourselves than we should.  Police are not omnipresent.  They are not, and can not be every where, with everyone at every minute of the day.  It just doesn't work that way. 

Cox is not the only one worried about "knowing that the only people who should have guns on campus are police".  So are the students. They know, regardless of prohibitions against guns on campus, there is no way to stop anyone from bringing a weapon on to a campus and using it.

Crayle Vanest is president of IU’s chapter of Students for Concealed Carry, a group pushing for passage of these laws around the nation.

“I don’t really believe in being a victim,” Vanest said. “I don’t necessarily think you need a firearm to not be a victim, but I think being on an equal level with just about any level of force that can come up on you is the best.”

At the very least, students who choose to protect themselves would have the right to do so.   Bad guys are going to have weapons; permits or not.

It is understandable for chief Cox to be concerned about the safety of his officers.  But is also understandable the most vulnerable, the students walking the campus, want to protect themselves and I agree.