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Texas Academics Told to Avoid ‘Sensitive Topics’ to Prevent Angering Armed Students
Here’s another swanky benefit of our out-of-control gun culture: university professors should be aware that their students might shoot them.
The Texas state legislature voted last year to allow students to carry concealed handguns into classrooms, dorms, just about anywhere on campus, a practice with roots to when Socrates taught Aristotle.If students packing seems like a bad idea to you, imagine how you’d feel if you were a professor. There’s nothing quite like the free exchange of ideas when everyone is armed in math class.
How about armed Texans in classes that teach Arabic, or Islamic Studies, or Hebrew, or evolution? Some good times ahead. The academic chilling effect seems pretty obvious. One wonders how many brilliant teachers will move to campuses in less-armed states, and how many researchers will avoid Texas for creating an academic environment incompatible with academics. It is possible that overall Texas will become even dumber.
Public universities in Texas are grappling with how to implement the measure, which gives some flexibility to the institution. For example, the University of Texas at Austin will not allow guns in dorms but will allow them in classrooms, because somehow that makes sense. Libraries and cafeterias,maybe.
Sporting events? Suck on hot lead, visiting team!
If having armed students seems like it would pretty significantly alter the college classroom, you need look no further than the University of Houston. The university’s faculty senate held a meeting recently with a Powerpoint presentation aimed at assisting faculty in adapting to the new gun-toting normal. Here’s a slide:
The slide stops just short of advising profs to wear kevlar to class, or to lecture from behind bullet proof glass or, in the language of Texans, simply pack bigger guns. Like the faculty parking that sets them aside from the kids, maybe teachers could be issued fully automatic weapons, while the kids were limited to semi-auto only, assuming that does not violate the only Amendment in the Bill of Rights Texans seem to be aware of. Grad students could get special firearms training to better prepare them for a life in academia. The concept of defending one’s thesis in front of a faculty committee takes on a whole new meaning.
Wacky comparison: The military does not allow open-carry on most bases outside of war zones, and during training does not allow guns in barracks and classrooms (outside of weapons training.) Even in war zones, every soldier has received extensive training in his/her weapons, and is punished swiftly for safety violations. In some ways, you could say Afghanistan may be safer than Houston. Yi hah!
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John Poole said...
1One more suggestion: Do not allow any authority to issue a restraining order to a student seated in your classroom.
No more restraining orders period! That process makes no sense today. The loose cannon shooter in Kansas had his fuse lit 45 minutes prior to the rampage. How stupid is that? There are better and safer ways to intervene
02/26/16 10:08 AM | Comment Link
Bruce said...
2When the oppressive 1% at long last regain some sense of community and quit inciting diversionary strife among the masses in order to stifle CLA$$ war on their ill-gotten greedy $TASHE$, maybe we’ll be able to return to a civil society of Fellow AMERICANS, where our 1st Amendment rights aren’t cancelled their 2nd Amendment ones! We’re ALL # 1 !
02/26/16 10:29 AM | Comment Link
Helen Marshall said...
3The sponsor of the legislation allowing concealed carry on campus carefully excluded private universities from this mandate, as he felt that private property rights had to be respected even in the case of gun rights (or Second Amendment rights as he carefully phrased it).
Several prominent academics have already left Texas campuses and others have refused appointments. This should pretty much ensure that Texas can beat even Mississippi to the bottom of the educational rankings.
02/26/16 11:08 AM | Comment Link
jo6pac said...
4Everyone gets an A and class dismissed.
HM yes I’ve read teachers are leaving also.
02/26/16 11:12 AM | Comment Link
Rich Bauer said...
5Can’t we just give Texass back to Mexico? The rest of the states will pay for the Trump Wall.
02/26/16 11:55 AM | Comment Link
Rich Bauer said...
6Speaking of sheer insanity: The Air Force is taking suggestions to help decide the name of the B-21 stealth bomber.
I submitted “Dr. Stranglelove’s Child”
02/26/16 12:06 PM | Comment Link
bloodypitchfork said...
7Gee, I’ve got $25 that says those dead students in Oregon wished they had a weapon 30 seconds before they were murdered…BECAUSE THE UNIVERSITY CHANCELLOR LOCKED THEM IN THE ROOM WITH THE KILLER. They might be alive today.
Insert rolling eyes smiley here.
I’ll also bet they would spit in the Chancellor’s face if they had a chance, too.
Personal protection is a right, guaranteed by the 2nd Amendment. And I’ll bet any one of you will WISH you were Concealed Carrying in the event YOU are ever confronted by someone intent on killing you.
Meanwhile, I’ve also got $25 that says those people killed in Kansas would trade everything they own right now, to reconsider the consequences of being politically correct.
02/26/16 12:10 PM | Comment Link
wemeantwell said...
8I agree… but. There is a huge difference between what a few people might want/need in a situation, and what is best for society at large. We pay a terrible price for not being willing to impose even modest restrictions on the Second, whereas we freely impose them on the other Amendments. Are we really at the point where armed students need to face down armed teachers, and vice versa, as a daily part of education? Needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few and all that.
02/26/16 12:19 PM | Comment Link
Rich Bauer said...
9When a student fires at a “bad” guy and kills a good guy, who does the victim’s parents sue the shit out of?
02/26/16 12:54 PM | Comment Link
Kyzl Orda said...
10The new new low. 2nd Amendment trumps 1st Amendment now
02/27/16 3:06 AM | Comment Link
bloodypitchfork said...
11Rich Bauer said…
“When a student fires at a “bad” guy and kills a good guy, who does the victim’s parents sue the shit out of?”
Good question. I’d submit if he misses the bad guy, he’ll die along with the rest anyway.
Here’s mine.
When a student dies because there was no school security with a weapon to defend him, who does the victim’s parents sue the shit out of?
But let me say this. Anyone who owns a weapon, “should” be required to pass some kind of yearly “proficiency test”. Along with owning a weapon, comes a responsibility to know how to use it. And frankly, there are far too many people with guns that don’t know diddly squat how to handle it. I mean…just look at this…
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=stupid+gun+fails
Meanwhile, I would think these students have much more to worry about now that the scum sucking Corporations aren’t just sending jobs abroad, they’re firing employees and replacing them with “imported” workers. Give it 10 yrs and I’ll bet there won’t be any American workers anymore.
I’ll also bet $100 that sooner or later, one of these displaced employees WILL kill a CEO, or the worker he just had to train, or worse. It’s only a matter of time before going “postal” will go viral.
http://www.latimes.com/business/hiltzik/la-fi-mh-the-scandal-of-engineering-visas-20160226-column.html
Btw folks. I totally agree this mass killing by crazy people is epidemic now. And sooner or later, the Congress will attempt to reign it in by trying to modify or totally remove the 2nd Amendment. But I’ll tell you this. If and when they do, it will require TAKING weapons from those who will NOT relinquish them without a fight. And there is the rub. In this country..there are enough people who will NOT give them up without a bloody civil war.
In the meantime, I’d bet most of these “shooters” fall into that category…
http://freebeacon.com/politics/second-amendment-supporters-drown-out-msnbc-report-with-gunfire/
02/27/16 5:31 AM | Comment Link
John Poole said...
12Philip Chism – just sentenced- was able to murder using a box cutter. The crazies will find a way- a knife, a bicycle spoke, a bottle shard but for big time infamy they’ll need a weapon with a hefty load. I’ll gladly donate more towards recognizing mental illness early in troubled youth. Trouble is that parents of such youth are in denial or mentally ill themselves. This will shock all of you here but if you know you have spawned a monster a family camping trip should be planned with that member not returning via nasty fall into a 200 foot ravine. It is up to the parents to spare the community from a spawn they clearly know is dangerously insane. The Old Testament has some similar advice. THE BAD SEED a film that needs to be seriously revisited. The ending was pure corn. Lightning or an act of the Gods will not rescue mankind. Chism’s mom knew her son was dangerous and homocidal but just looked the other way.
02/27/16 9:25 AM | Comment Link
John Poole said...
13Addendum_ the original novel and play ended not with a Deus Ex Machina taking out the monstrous girl- She lived to kill again wile her mother a suicide.
02/27/16 12:30 PM | Comment Link
Guest said...
14“Give it 10 yrs and I’ll bet there won’t be any American workers anymore.”
Well, you’ll still have your guns, right?
02/27/16 2:17 PM | Comment Link
wemeantwell said...
15We’ll be using the guns to hunt each other down as a food source.
02/27/16 6:27 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
16agitate,educate,organize… Enjoy!
02/27/16 3:18 PM | Comment Link
chuck said...
17Who supports the IDF helping the USA police Depts.? Support BDS before it is illegal. Have a nice day or night. Wage Peace
02/27/16 5:14 PM | Comment Link
bloodypitchfork said...
18Guest said…
“Give it 10 yrs and I’ll bet there won’t be any American workers anymore.”
Well, you’ll still have your guns, right?”
In ten years I’ll be dead. But on my deathbed I’ll be praying that people like you won’t be in line to protect my kids.
02/27/16 6:36 PM | Comment Link
bloodypitchfork said...
19John Poole said…
. “Trouble is that parents of such youth are in denial or mentally ill themselves. This will shock all of you here but if you know you have spawned a monster a family camping trip should be planned with that member not returning via nasty fall into a 200 foot ravine. It is up to the parents to spare the community from a spawn they clearly know is dangerously insane”
Spare the community?
You would do well to listen to the mother of one of the Columbine killers.
http://www.npr.org/2016/02/16/466618817/sue-klebold-mother-of-columbine-shooter-carries-him-everywhere-i-go-always
It’s clear you don’t have a child.
02/27/16 6:43 PM | Comment Link
jhoover said...
20looks US more and more going to old days of Wester Cowboy hold power life?
02/27/16 6:44 PM | Comment Link
jhoover said...
21Kansas Workplace Shooting Leaves 4 Dead, 14 Wounded
Wonder why this not making the big bang news outlet as if this terrorist in the San Bernardino attack??
What about His iPhone? also Apple refusing to lockout?
02/27/16 6:48 PM | Comment Link
bloodypitchfork said...
22wemeantwell said…
“We’ll be using the guns to hunt each other down as a food source.”
Let’s hope not. Cause if it get’s to that point.. the human race is doomed for eternity. But it’s a big planet and the human race is flexible, resilient and resourceful. My only reservation is artificial intelligence.
02/27/16 7:06 PM | Comment Link
wemeantwell said...
23My great fear is that there will only be skinny people left to eat by that point.
02/27/16 7:08 PM | Comment Link
bloodypitchfork said...
24jhoover said…
“Wonder why this not making the big bang news outlet as if this terrorist in the San Bernardino attack??”
Simple.
There is no foreign connectivity that the FBI can exploit to bolster their attempt to legitimize General Warrants.
King George lll would endow Comey with knighthood and a kiss to each cheek.
02/27/16 7:22 PM | Comment Link
bloodypitchfork said...
25wemeantwell said…
“My great fear is that there will only be skinny people left to eat by that point.”
It’s blindingly obvious you’ve never had to survive on SNAP.
02/27/16 7:26 PM | Comment Link
wemeantwell said...
26Touche, my friend. I’m off to drink toasts to the Clintons…
02/27/16 7:27 PM | Comment Link
bloodypitchfork said...
27Hahahahahahahahahahaha….hohoho…toasts to the Clintons. Hahaha. I can hear your toast right now.
Peter..you slay me.
Meanwhile, in the spirit of this whole post.. I’ll leave with this one to think about..
“In-N-Out owner and President Lynsi Snyder identified the employee as Josefina Alcocer, who had been working with the company for about 20 years. ”
fuck. 20 years. At an In-N-Out. fuck.
http://www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-ln-killing-of-in-n-out-burger-worker-20160227-story.html
goddamn.
02/27/16 7:54 PM | Comment Link
jhoover said...
28There is no foreign connectivity?
Oh yah very smart!!
So behind San Bernardino attack? which foreign connectivity there?
Tel us bloodypitchfork in full yours & FBI findings?
02/27/16 11:21 PM | Comment Link
teri said...
29Here’s a fun fact: 7 of our states have adopted a “State Firearm”, which is not nearly as endearing and sweet as having a “state bird” or a “state flower”, but is perhaps a bit more reflective of the times we live in.
“A state firearm has only been designated by seven of the fifty States in the United States: Alaska, Arizona, Utah, Indiana, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Tennessee.[…]”
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_U.S._state_firearms
Governor Jan Brewer, who has never to my knowledge been accused of subtlety, signed the bill naming Arizona’s state firearm into law in April 2011, a mere three months after US Congresswoman from Arizona, Gabby Giffords, was shot in the head while at an event in her home state.
Tennessee is the latest to adopt a state firearm, and they have outdone all the rest; their choice is a rifle so powerful it can shoot down a commercial airplane.
(See: https://www.rt.com/usa/333843-tennessee-state-rifle-barrett/)
Me, I’m waiting for the day when each state has its own designated “State Deranged Mass-murderer”. They can put a list of proposed names as a referendum item on the election ballots. Here in Md., we might be able to choose between Dick Cheney (ha, I bet you thought I was going to name people like Ted Bundy or David Berkowitz, didn’t you? Those guys are pikers compared to some of the others eligible for inclusion on the referendum), who owns a summer home on the Chesapeake Bay, or Donald Rumsfeld, who now owns Mount Misery Plantation in St. Michael’s. Although Wyoming (where he was born), Nebraska (where he was raised), and Virginia (where his primary residence is) may also have a valid claim to Cheney. We’ll have to work that out. Texas can claim the entire Bush family; what a plethora of names that clan alone can provide!
Now that I am thinking along these lines, this could be kind of a fun project….
02/28/16 6:32 AM | Comment Link
John Poole said...
30Pitch- two very successful children and four grandhildren. We get together often for fun times. And yourself?
02/28/16 7:24 AM | Comment Link
Rich Bauer said...
31If the Donald wins the GOP nomination and campaigns in Dallass, Texass, good luck Secret Service:
http://11oclocknews.typepad.com/the_11_oclock_news/2016/02/donald-trump-a-clear-and-present-danger-to-the-republican-party.html
02/28/16 8:25 AM | Comment Link
bloodypitchfork said...
32teri said:
“Tennessee is the latest to adopt a state firearm, and they have outdone all the rest; their choice is a rifle so powerful it can shoot down a commercial airplane. – ”
Indeed. I saw that. Apparently, because it’s manufactured in Tennessee. But so is Jack Daniels whiskey. I wonder if that’s the State refreshment? Haha. Guns and whiskey. No wonder the capital of country music is Nashville. 🙂
“Me, I’m waiting for the day when each state has its own designated “State Deranged Mass-murderer.
(snip)Here in Md., we might be able to choose between Dick Cheney….”
BWAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAHAAHAHAHA!
Perfect. teri…you’re mean. 🙂
John Poole said…
“Pitch- two very successful children and four grandhildren. We get together often for fun times. And yourself?”
Glad to hear it. My apology. Two as well. Son and daughter. Successful? It depends on how you measure it. In my kids case, at least they aren’t on the street. Both are self employed and married. Two grandkids too. As for getting together, they live in California. I’m in Michigan. So we’re not as fortunate. Although I’d give anything to live close to them. Just can’t afford living in Sacramento. Besides, I HATE California. Lived there for 30 yrs before leaving due to fighting corrupt government and loosing. But that’s another story.
02/28/16 10:05 AM | Comment Link
Rich Bauer said...
33“But let me say this. Anyone who owns a weapon, “should” be required to pass some kind of yearly “proficiency test”. Along with owning a weapon, comes a responsibility to know how to use it. And frankly, there are far too many people with guns that don’t know diddly squat how to handle it.”
Yesterday, Ronald Hamilton killed a Prince William female police officer after he killed his wife. Hamilton is an active-duty Army staff sarge based at the Pentagon, and, I guess, knows how to handle a gun.
02/28/16 11:22 AM | Comment Link
bloodypitchfork said...
34jhoover said…
28
There is no foreign connectivity?
Oh yah very smart!!
So behind San Bernardino attack? which foreign connectivity there?
Tel us bloodypitchfork in full yours & FBI findings?
ummm, my bad. I was referring to the killer in Kansas, not SB. But even so, yeah, maybe I jumped he gun…no pun intended. Given he started his attack 90 minutes after receiving a restraining order, I saw nothing to indicate his actions had a “foreign” nexus. I simply surmised by virtue of conjecture. Sorry. But by all means, please bring us up to date should you come across any info proving me wrong.
Rich Bauer said…”Yesterday, Ronald Hamilton killed a Prince William female police officer after he killed his wife. Hamilton is an active-duty Army staff sarge based at the Pentagon, and, I guess, knows how to handle a gun. – ”
So? WTF does that mean?
All I said was I think gun owners should be required to pass a proficiency test..in relation to the comment about a student missing a bad guy and killing a good guy. So what are you trying to say?
sheeezus. .
02/28/16 12:43 PM | Comment Link
John Poole said...
35Pitch “successful” deosn’t always refer to income. My children are thriving and happy. They are resilient-They know the secret of living below their means. They also never take anything for granted-the good times particularly and they also know the bad times don’t necessarily have to stay bad indefinitely. They are highly flexible and know how to find something useful from hardship.
02/28/16 1:00 PM | Comment Link
Rich Bauer said...
36Don’t be surprised if “Sarge” pulls the Stafford Va FBI agent’s self-defense defense out of his ass.
thank god for the Second Amendment.
02/28/16 2:26 PM | Comment Link
Rich Bauer said...
37http://www.cbsnews.com/news/army-staff-sergeant-ronald-hamilton-virginia-cop-ashley-guidon-death/
02/28/16 2:31 PM | Comment Link
Rich Bauer said...
38“The death of Ashley Guindon was just the latest tragedy to strike the family. Her father, David, committed suicide the day after he returned home from Iraq, where he served with the New Hampshire Air National Guard.”
Guns, guns, guns. Where does it end?
02/28/16 2:33 PM | Comment Link
Rich Bauer said...
39Americans. They are quite mad, you know.
02/28/16 2:56 PM | Comment Link
Rich Bauer said...
40I would say Pray for US, but:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2016/02/28/ohio-pastor-shot-dead/81078398/
02/28/16 4:07 PM | Comment Link
bloodypitchfork said...
41Rich Bauer said…
‘”Americans. They are quite mad, you know.”
Said the Cheshire cat to Alice which eventually is quoted by Heinrich Himmler to Adolf who LOL’ d on record to which the British cryptographically decrypted and had a hearty laugh in Winston Churchills bunker.
From the link
“In 2001, Daniel Schooler was charged with felonious assault with a firearm specification and carrying a concealed weapon, according to court records, which noted that Schooler “may be mentally ill and in need of treatment.” He was sentenced to five years of probation.”unquote
I think what we have here is a failure to communicate. On a biblical scale.
In May 2002, Schooler attacked a 27-year-old woman at a home on Lorenz Avenue, according to a police report. The victim said she visited a friend at the home accompanied by her 4-year-old son. The victim said Schooler began pacing and was acting odd and then struck her, knocking her unconscious. Police said Schooler hit, kicked, bit her, cut her with a small knife and threatened her son.
Schooler was convicted of felonious assault with a deadly weapon and spent two years in prison.
Other incidents include an attack on a friend with a golf club in 2007, and an alleged assault with a hammer and knife in January 2008, the newspaper reported.
02/28/16 7:42 PM | Comment Link
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Rich Bauer said...
44“Sarge” reportedly killed the female police officer with his AK47. Good weapon for home defense.
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