Guns on Campus

In Wednesday the 29^th’s Dallas Morning News, Arthur Markman, a psychologist and professor at the University of Texas, argued against allowing students or staff to carry concealed firearms on campus. After the shooting and other events on the UT campus on Tuesday, this topic has taken on increased relevance. Markman gives two main reasons in support of his opinion. First, he brings up the idea of abstraction. It is easy to think of armed suspects as the enemy in our minds, but in actuality it would probably be much more difficult to spot a shooter. In a shooting situation, there are large numbers of people running around, making it difficult to spot the armed suspect; furthermore, if other civilians are armed as well, someone might mistake an innocent bystander with a gun as the suspect. Markman's second reason is the tendency of many to choke under pressure. In a high pressure situation, people's working memory declines, making it harder to assess the situation and develop a coherent, sensible reaction. In addition, civilians with guns would probably not have a great deal of training in stressful situations, thus making an accident more likely. I agree with Markman's thesis for the same reasons. As we saw Tuesday, and learned from the tragic Virginia Tech shooting, the best way to deal with these situations is through preventive measures and proper training of the authorities. The several different law enforcement agencies in Austin had trained for this type of crisis and thus were able to handle it effectively. Furthermore, arming people that do not have the necessary training, especially under stressful situations, could very easily result in additional injuries or deaths. For these reasons, I do not support allowing guns on campus.

I believe the author is very credible. As a professor for UT, he must be intelligent and know his area of study well, and the fact that he is a psychologist adds to his credibility (especially since this editorial involves analysis of how people behave in certain circumstances). I think this article is aimed at anyone old enough to vote on the issue, as it attempts to persuade the reader that guns should not be allowed on campus. It might be more aimed at people that support guns on campus, since it gives several specific reasons attacking that stance. Overall, I thought the author was persuasive in his argument.

Impending Budget Crisis

As the upcoming election for Texas governor approaches, few politicians are even mentioning the widening state budget gap. Over the next two years, Texas will face a budget gap estimated to be as large as $21 billion, but candidates Rick Perry and Bill White usually avoid the topic altogether. Instead, the two speak mainly about eliminating waste and increasing efficiency without giving many specifics, in what some have labeled “politics of denial.” There are several different causes of the current budget woes. The recession’s lasting effects have kept revenue at subdued levels. The population of Texas should continue to grow at a swift pace, increasing the demand for expensive government-provided services. “Medical inflation” will continue through 2013. In addition, 80 percent of the budget is allocated to health care and education services, which are difficult to cut. These factors have led to a budgetary shortfall that next year could equal 12 percent of this year’s spending, a level higher than many other states. While both Perry and White have avoided the issue, it is important that Texans stay informed about the looming budgetary difficulties and encourage their representatives to do the same.

Please see the related article, which summarizes the budget situation as well as the candidates views on the matter. This subject is important because solving the budget crisis could affect tax rates, benefits, and other government services that we all use or enjoy.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/091210dntexbudgetdenial.2b74247.html