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GMU Broadside: Students Carry Empty Holsters (full article)

fairfax1

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http://broadsideonline.com/10-29-2007/emptyholsters.php

Students Carry Empty Holsters
Protest Used to Fight Gun Policy
Staff Reporter Ethan Vaughan

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, a national group with a chapter at George Mason University, spent the week of Oct. 22 to Oct. 26 protesting gun control regulations on campuses nationwide. The event, called the Empty Holster Protest, featured students at universities across America wearing empty holsters on their waists to symbolize what they see as the absence on school property of a Constitutionally-guaranteed right to bear arms.
All in all, between five and 600 people participated around the country, with the GMU Students for Concealed Carry on Campus playing its own small role. The Mason branch of the organization has 122 members listed on its Facebook group, though it has yet to receive official recognition from the university. “We haven’t had a lot of luck with [the school],” said junior Andrew Dysart, a 25 year-old former Marine and president of Mason’s SCCC.
Dysart, who hopes his group will soon be an official club at Mason, points out a key difference between Mason SCCC and nation SCCC: while SCCCs in other parts of the country are striving to change state laws regarding gun ownership and possession, “[Mason SCCC’s] main focus is to get the school to change its policies, since it’s not against state law in Virginia to carry if you have a permit.” Dysart did not mandate that his members take part in the weeklong protest, but sent an e-mail encouraging members to be active.
“We did make everyone aware of it,” Dysart said. Nicole Shiley Kukuruda, one of those who took up the call, is supportive of the way her group’s opposition was expressed and said that she thinks the protest went well. Kukuruda said that she recognizes how powerful the symbolism of a gun holster can be and said she wants others to fully understand SCCC’s goals.
“The goal of this club isn’t to make people afraid of guns,” Kukuruda said. Rather, by approaching the issue with the seriousness and sensitivity it requires, Kukuruda has had a positive reaction from many students.
“I converted like five people,” Kukuruda said. The GMU SCCC Facebook site states that: “The purpose of this group is to create an awareness of the need for students, faculty, and staff of George Mason University to be able to protect themselves through the legal possession of handguns.”
Kukuruda believes that the protest has been effective because she says it has sparked conversation. Dysart agrees. He says that the recent events at Virginia Tech, rather than proving detrimental to the Conceal and Carry movement, have garnered it more support.
“I’ve had people who came up to me who never thought about it before,” Dysart said. “Now they realize that campus safety is an issue.” Some have suggested that the Virginia Tech massacre may have been prevented had students there been armed and better able to defend themselves.
 

lordnitrox

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I took part in this and got a few issues from the staff. One teacher who I did not know too well, stated saying that it was a place to learn not fight. I had to agree with him, however It turned in to a place where fights happen. I told him i would love to never be worried about things, and would love to never have the need to carry a gun. However, Things do happen and I want to make sure I can save my own life, or the life of someone else. True, I carry for personal protection; but given the chance I will jump in the middle of something to save others.
 

fairfax1

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All you need on campus is a whistle to stay safe :uhoh:


I do like the part where they say "The success of self-defense techniques is based on the individual. Developing a plan of action, using your personal weapons....." then they remind you you can't actually have an effective weapon on campus, "For example, Millan said people are not allowed to carry knives and guns on campus for self-defense but under Virginia law, they can." :banghead:




http://broadsideonline.com/11-05-2007/staysafe.php
Stay Safe at Mason

Self-Defense Methods and Tips to Stay Safe
Staff Writer Lindsey Kelleher

There are several defense methods students and faculty can use when they are on campus. But how effective are they and what do George Mason officials suggest?
Mason’s annual security report suggests that students avoid using stairs in remote sections of a building and hold their keys hand when approaching your vehicle. It is also suggested that students carry a whistle or something else that can make loud noise, keep car and residence doors and windows locked, stay within well-lit walkways and call the Escort Service at night instead of walking alone. According to Patricia Millan, a detective from the Mason Police Department, there are some self defense methods that students, employees and faculty members cannot use on the Mason campuses because of Mason policies which forbid their use. For example, Millan said people are not allowed to carry knives and guns on campus for self-defense but under Virginia law, they can.
“People should learn about what they’re going to buy first before they go out and actually buy it because there is a high possibility that you could be providing an attacker with a weapon,” Millan said. A new regulation was passed by the Board of Vistors this past summer to strengthen the university’s prohibition against weapons on any of its campuses. Under this regulation, Mason students, employees and members of outside communities are prohibited to carry or bring weapons on to campus.
In an August 2007 press release by Mason, Thomas Hennessy, Mason’s chief of staff is quoted as saying “The high volume of activity that is so much of our institution’s character demands that we remain vigilant in doing all we can to ensure the safety of those we serve and who use our many resources.” However, Millan said there are many ways for a student to defend themselves on campus.
“The success of self-defense techniques is based on the individual. Developing a plan of action, using your personal weapons, avoiding panic and practicing are some basic principles used along with the self defense techniques learned in classes like Rape Aggression Defense,” said Millan. RAD is a self defense class offered to the female community by the Mason Police Department. The next RAD classes will be held on Saturday, Nov. 17 and Sunday, Nov. 18 at the Original Building on the Mason Arlington campus. To register for RAD, call 703-993-2800 or e-mail rad@gmu.edu. Classes are free.
PHED 134 & 135: Self Defense For Men and Women I & II are one-credit courses offered at Mason designed for students with little or no background in martial arts or self-defense. Defensive and offensive techniques are taught to prepare students for any potentially dangerous event they may encounter. These courses will also improve students’ physical and mental fitness. This information can be found rht.gmu.edu.

According to Millan, Mace can be purchased online or at some retail stores. According to http://www.mace.com, people can purchase various types of pepper spray, pepper gel and pepper foam. Pepper mace causes a person’s eyes to close and feel a burning sensation if this formula is sprayed directly into them. Mace products from this website typically range from about $15 to $65. Pepper mace pocket is one example of a mace product that can be purchased from the site.
 

nova

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I carry a 3.25" folding blade on me 24/7. Mason's rules regarding knives is that they have to be a folding blade, no longer than 4". Anyone know Mason's rules regarding OC spray?
 

TEX1N

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nova wrote:
I carry a 3.25" folding blade on me 24/7. Mason's rules regarding knives is that they have to be a folding blade, no longer than 4". Anyone know Mason's rules regarding OC spray?
Here is the weapons police that they have posted:
http://www.gmu.edu/facstaff/policy/newpolicy/1120gen.html

I will warn you that GMU claims that they passed a new "secret" weapons policy on August 17th. I call it secret because they only issued a press release on it. It's been almost three months and I still haven't seen any tangible sign of their new policy:
http://condor.gmu.edu/newsroom/display.php?rid=630&keywords=

That being said, I couldn't find anything that restricted pepper spray, or even tasers.
(Although I would highly recommend that you research VA law before carrying a taser.)

Also, where did you get the 4" knife limit? Because I can't find anything that limits the length of a knife blade, you just can't carry a dirk knife, bowie knife, switchblade knife, or ballistic knife.
 

nova

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TEX1N wrote:
nova wrote:
I carry a 3.25" folding blade on me 24/7. Mason's rules regarding knives is that they have to be a folding blade, no longer than 4". Anyone know Mason's rules regarding OC spray?
Here is the weapons police that they have posted:
http://www.gmu.edu/facstaff/policy/newpolicy/1120gen.html

I will warn you that GMU claims that they passed a new "secret" weapons policy on August 17th. I call it secret because they only issued a press release on it. It's been almost three months and I still haven't seen any tangible sign of their new policy:
http://condor.gmu.edu/newsroom/display.php?rid=630&keywords=

That being said, I couldn't find anything that restricted pepper spray, or even tasers.
(Although I would highly recommend that you research VA law before carrying a taser.)

Also, where did you get the 4" knife limit? Because I can't find anything that limits the length of a knife blade, you just can't carry a dirk knife, bowie knife, switchblade knife, or ballistic knife.

Thanks for the links!



The 4" limit only applies in on-campus housing. I'm in a dorm so I am limited to 4".

I forgot...I should have specified that first :)
 
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