When you see this name you automatically think, guns, school and death. These words are, understandably, unsettling to any parent or student and automatically spark people to think the next word: protection.
Over the years there have been numerous public shootings resulting in people searching for ways to keep their loved ones safe and protected should they ever end up in such a life altering situation. The debate over whether to allow guns on campus is raging on and the public and its opinions has been extremely divided over it.
Students and professors at Texas public universities may soon be able to carry concealed weapons on campus. More than half of the states members of the House of Representatives have signed on as co-authors of the new measure. Eight other states: Mississippi, Nebraska, Florida, New Mexico, Michigan, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Arizona (which currently allows concealed hand guns just about anywhere) have “campus carry” legislation pending as well according to David Burnett, director of PR for Students for Concealed Carry on Campus.
“The point that I would impress on these campuses is that we are talking about former military, ROTC cadets, professors and other mature adults that went through state mandated requirements, exercises and fingerprinting. Not those with violent crimes, alcohol abuse or mental issues,” says Burnett of the pending legislation.
The intended safety reform has not been met without its criticism. The Campaign to Keep Guns off Campus currently has 275 schools in 36 different states staying true to its initiative to keep colleges, and schools in general, as gun-free zones.
According to Andy Pelosi, executive director of the campaign, the decision could most definitely influence where parents decide to send their children to college.
It is not unlikely that the legislation will pass. In 2009, the Senate passed a similar bill pertaining to gun control and was not met with nearly as much opposition. This difference is understandable when you consider that college campuses are brewing with large groups of diverse people that hold many different viewpoints.
The issue of gun control has always been a hot topic in our country. Even currently people believe that Obama will soon enforce gun control laws even though he has never explicitly stated this, nor implied it, in any of his speeches.
This brings me to believe that PR for many different advocate groups, both for and against, gun control must be bustling right now. Whether you are for or against gun control everyone has an opinion and has something to say. These advocate groups must have someone representing them and speaking on behalf of their beliefs if they desire to further their efforts.
Regardless of what their PR representatives think about the situation they must be objective and keep the best interest of their client at heart. There is, without a shadow of a doubt, PR professionals working for companies that have beliefs that are unparalleled to their own. The main focus of a PR professional is to keep their organization afloat and to do the best job they can while pushing their personal beliefs aside.
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