Pennsylvania Firearm Owners Association
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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Reading, Pennsylvania
    (Berks County)
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    40
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    Default Letter sent to VP of my college regarding concealed carry

    A while back I had emailed my school's board to find out their stance on firearms. I was told that weapons of any kind are prohibited on school property, per the Board of Directors. Here is the letter I mailed to the VP today:

    Ms. Marabella,

    Without sounding combative, I would just like it to be known that I find this policy irresponsible on the part of the college. While I am sure that the reason this policy is in place is to ensure the safety of students on campus, I would contend that it does just the opposite. The fact of the matter is that people who wish to do harm to others do not follow rules, including no gun policies. This is, by defintion, what makes them criminals in the first place. So by declaring a school a "gun free zone", what is really being said is that a criminal who wishes to carry out an attack will have a school full of people unable to defend themselves.

    If, God forbid, an incident were to occur at RACC like happend at VT or NIU while I'm in class, what, as an unarmed citizen, am I supposed to do if I'm in a classroom where an attack occurs? I have no recourse, and no way to defend myself. By the time the police arrive, the event would be over. Now, conversely, if I were LEGALLY (I am licensed by the state of PA to carry a concealed handgun) armed and able to defend myself, the odds of both my and everyone else in that classroom's survival would undoubtedly rise exponentially.

    I have no expectations that anyone on the Board will listen to anything I have to say, but I decided to make my opinions/views known anyway, because this is something I feel strongly about, and it makes me very nervous being on campus and walking to my car at night in the middle of Reading with absolutely no way to protect myself.

    Thank you for your time,


    I doubt I'll ever hear any kind of response, but I figured it was worth my time to send it.

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    The 'Burg-Northern Berks County, Pennsylvania
    (Berks County)
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    Default Re: Letter sent to VP of my college regarding concealed carry

    Hey BCDave..............

    In view of RACC's location - by all means carry.

    My son has been thru several Kids'Courses there - and I CC every time I am there.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2007
    Location
    East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
    (Monroe County)
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    56
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    Default Re: Letter sent to VP of my college regarding concealed carry

    Good letter, certainly let them know how you feel

    "I would rather be exposed to the inconveniences attending too much liberty
    than to those attending too small a degree of it."~Thomas Jefferson, 1791
    Hobson fundraiser Remember SFN Read before you Open Carry

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
    (Franklin County)
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    Default Re: Letter sent to VP of my college regarding concealed carry

    Excellent letter. Let us know if you get any response.
    Socialism is a philosophy of failure, the creed of ignorance, and the gospel of envy.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Nov 2007
    Location
    Aliquippa, Pennsylvania
    (Beaver County)
    Age
    65
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    Default Re: Letter sent to VP of my college regarding concealed carry

    Well thought out letter. Keep us posted.
    I vote the second first

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
    (Allegheny County)
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    Default Re: Letter sent to VP of my college regarding concealed carry

    You may, or may not get a reply, but you will almost certainly be put on a "list".

    Do you live, or park a vehicle on campus? How do you feel about having your stuff searched?

    Can they do that?
    I called to check my ZIP CODE!....DY-NO-MITE!!!

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Norristown, Pennsylvania
    (Montgomery County)
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    16

    Default Re: Letter sent to VP of my college regarding concealed carry

    Quote Originally Posted by Emptymag View Post
    You may, or may not get a reply, but you will almost certainly be put on a "list".

    Do you live, or park a vehicle on campus? How do you feel about having your stuff searched?

    Can they do that?
    I guess that depends if a community college is considered public or private.

    If public - IE: paid for by the government - then your 4th amendment rights stand.

    If its a private institution, then since its private property they can pretty much do what they please.

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Aug 2007
    Location
    West Chester, Pennsylvania
    (Chester County)
    Posts
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    Default Re: Letter sent to VP of my college regarding concealed carry

    I remember going to RACC and seeing broken car window glass in the parking lots and side streets around the school

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Mar 2008
    Location
    Hanover, Pennsylvania
    (Adams County)
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    Default Re: Letter sent to VP of my college regarding concealed carry

    Please let us know if you get a response to your letter.
    USMV M/C

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania
    (Monroe County)
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    44
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    Default Re: Letter sent to VP of my college regarding concealed carry

    I applaud the act of writing a letter. Its a good move in opening communication about carrying on campus and its a positive step.

    that said I really think the letter sends the wrong message, it really came across to me as "Screw you, I'm carrying and I don't care what you have to say about it because you are idiots and don't care about the students"

    When you start a letter with "I'm not trying to sounding combative but..." it instantly puts the reader on the defensive and they aren't going to care what you are going to say. by saying "without sounding combative, i would just like it to be known..." that to me screams combative. Its like prefacing a comment that you are about to say by saying "not to be an ass, but...", or "Not to be mean but"... it sets the tone very quickly.

    You go on to pretty much call them morons and attack the current policy then you rush into national headlines and say you would save everyone. Meanwhile the reader is going "He just referenced 2 tragedies that occurred when people who were legally allowed to own the guns they used opened fire on campuses and he wants us to let him carry guns?"

    I think it would have struck much closer to home to use scenarios that are very very realistic for the RACC campus and would drive that "WE ARE NOT SAFE" point home. Reading is a horribly dangerous place. There must have been at least a few crimes that either happened ON campus or right off campus that you could have used, if they involve students all the better. Some stats may have helped (ie: homicide rate in the area, armed robbery, crimes committed... etc)

    And then you close the letter by basically TELLING the reader not to bother responding as you don't expect a response, you ended on a very confrontational note that if anything would have her laughing at you and throwing your letter away... PETA feels strongly about animal rights, the Brady group feels strongly about gun control, and you (one student) feel strongly about carrying a gun on campus...

    My suggestions for future letters:

    - Start out with clearly stating your concern in a calm, professional manner that allows the reader to come to you and want to understand and help with your issue. Make sure the reader knows that YOU are ASKING them to take time to HELP YOU.

    "I know you are extremely busy and I thank you for taking the time to read my letter..." will instantly relax the reader a little bit and also fluff up the ego (busy = important)

    - Clearly define what you want to discuss and why you want it so there is no "guess work" involved.

    "... in order to ensure the safety of PA residents the State issues permits to carry a firearm to qualified individuals over 21 years of age. We would like permission to use these permits to carry a concealed weapon on Campus grounds for the sake of our personal security..."

    - Provide examples where this may have made a difference and use very clearly targeted examples to show how lax security is and how important it is for students to defend themselves

    "... Last week 2 people were severally beaten on the way to their cars after attending class, the assailants took their laptops and books in an apparent robbery..."

    "... Last month on her way from one class in Building A to Building B Mary Lou was brutally attacked and raped while still on campus."

    - Close by thanking for their time, provide a resource for additional information and encourage the reader to think about this from their point of view

    Thank you for taking the time to read my letter and I hope to hear from you soon. If you have any questions or would like additional information on PA State laws concerning LTCF or Students Carrying on Campus please visit (insert websites).

    **don't include the PAFOA pamphlet, the idea of openly carrying guns would destroy your whole cause as there is no way that would be allowed

    just my .02. Take it or leave it

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