Guns are everywhere, and many people own and use them on a regular basis. Many students at Sacramento State own guns, but do they know how to use them safely and properly? If yes, they certainly didn?t learn anything about it at Sac State. Because, on this campus, guns are treated as though they do not exist.

According to William Vizzard, a criminal justice professor who professes to be the campus expert on gun control, there was a time when there were firearm classes taught on campus. In fact, in the 1950s and early ?60s (Vizzard approximated), there was a shooting range on campus. But times are different now, since guns are not allowed on college campuses in California.

This has not stopped the local American River College from allowing its students to be educated in the field of firearms.At ARC, a one-unit firearm familiarity course deals with issues surrounding gun safety. It features classroom instruction provided at the Sacramento Regional Public Safety Training Center, where retired law enforcement officers and others certified to teach about guns show the students firearm safety. According to ARC admissions and records clerk Javier Covarrubias, there are seven daytime sections of this course taught from March to December at the Center, and each one holds up to 24 students. There are other courses as well, including a beginner?s class, so a student who has never handled a gun before doesn?t have to team with Billy the Kid. That?s nearly 200 students who receive 24 hours of instruction on firearm familiarity. If people are going to use firearms, they might as well know how to do it safely.

So if they can do it, why can?t we? Well, it appears that we just don?t want to go through the process of creating the program.

“You need instructors and licenses. Gun safety will not fit into a three-unit course and you can?t bring firearms on campus, anyway,” said Vizzard, who is against a new gun safety course. “I don?t think it is appropriate for us at Sac State.”

Under California law, it is a felony to possess a handgun on University campuses, according to Campus Police Investigator John Hamrick. He also pointed out that because of this, all dorm students who own firearms must give them to the University to be secured on campus in a vault.

“We have, from time to time, made arrests on campus for possession of firearms,” he said. “Recently, our officers found a loaded handgun in a vehicle near the south end of campus. The non-student parolee was arrested.”

There are guns that find their way onto campus and everywhere else, for that matter. Students will be, or are in, situations where guns are around. So why not give them the opportunity to earn one unit while learning how to be safe with them?

Surely, the training center located at McClennan Park that ARC uses is willing to host Sac State students. I also doubt that the shooting center at Folsom or the other ranges that ARC students use would have a problem with a few extra college students trying to learn more about gun safety. All the time, there are stories about guns accidentally going off and somebody getting shot. Sac State has the chance to prevent incidents like this by encouraging students to be safe with firearms.

ARC can do it. Why can?t we?

Is Russ Edmondson shooting on an empty chamber? E-mail him at [email protected].