2008 OFCC Scholarship Winner Selected!

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Published on Thursday, 11 December 2008 08:51

Written by Daniel White

We are pleased to announce Michael Flitcraft as the winner of the 2008 $1,000 OFCC Academic Scholarship!

Mike is a sophomore at The University of Cincinnati majoring in Mechanical Engineering Technology. He is president of Students For Concealed Carry on Campus and a member of the UC Shooting Sports Club.

Below is his winning essay, submitted in response to the question, "How do you feel the United States Supreme Court decision in the Heller case affects the right of college students to bear arms on campus?"

OFCC created this scholarship, awarded to a student enrolled in an Ohio college or university who is a current member in good standing of an active on-campus student organization devoted to gun rights, because we feel it is important to invest in the future of gun rights activism. By helping these students now, we help ourselves in the future.

Congratulations, Michael!

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How do you feel the United States Supreme Court decision in the Heller case affects the right of college students to bear arms on campus?

On June 26th, 2008, the Supreme Court of the United States of America (SCOTUS) released its' decision on the D.C. vs. Heller case, siding with Heller. For the first time, the politicians were told exactly what the commonwealth already knew - the definition of the Second Amendment (2A) in the United States Constitution. Unfortunately, for millions of college students, faculty, and staff, this court case likely has no bearing on a college campus.

The SCOTUS declared that the 2A was indeed an individual right, but like most rights is not unlimited. Specifically speaking, in the syllabus of the court documentation on page 2 stated that the 2A is not a right to keep and carry any weapon in any manner or purpose - including forbidding the carrying of firearms in sensitive places such as schools and government buildings.

While some states and localities do make a legal distinction between primary education institutions (kindergarten through 12th grade - a school) and a secondary education institutions (college), other states and localities do not define a difference and treat both as the same. With the SCOTUS ruling clearly stating that restrictions on where a weapon can be carried, including schools, most likely many politicians and members of the general public will treat this statement as applying to both colleges and to primary education institutions. This opinion is restated on page 54 in the Opinion of the Court.

Many college students in the state of Ohio ages 21 and over are juniors or seniors - not to mention the faculty and staff above the age of 21, which is the minimum age to carry a concealed handgun with a license in Ohio. While such license holders can carry a handgun in a multitude of places, college campuses are one of those locations where a license holder cannot carry legally. According to SCOTUS, it is a sensitive location. Interestingly enough, in contrast to much of the detailed research the Court performed, it could not define what makes a sensitive location.

In a college environment, people are traditionally expected to learn material that is commonly related to a specific major that they are interested in. In my experience in college, classes can be effectively held in a traditional classroom setting, in a green space, or entirely off of the college property. Courses dealing with the application of techniques and theories can often obtain better results and retention of methods for the students when they are held in an environment that closely relates the application of techniques to the major; factories, jails, court rooms, and design offices are common examples of these locations.

Even though the location has changed, the people taking part in the learning experience are no different than when the course is held on the college campus, and the same holds true for those teaching the course. However, in many of these off-campus learning environment, students, faculty, and staff, can legally carry a handgun if they possess a concealed handgun license. Since the same activity is occurring, why are these law-abiding citizens barred from legally carrying their firearms on a college campus? The definition sensitive location it seems from this logic, only applies to the style of mortar, bricks, and room lay out and not to the activity held within the building.

As those of us who are active in the constant battle to regain our 2A rights are more than aware, the logic and unaltered statistics when dealing with firearms and the carrying of them are often times in favor of the right to carry a firearm. However, the biggest single hurdle we face is the definition of specific terms. Common ones that we as a community struggle to define to the general public and media include assault weapon, fully automatic, semi automatic, concealed carry, open carry, and just plain old firearm in some cases. In this application, the definition of sensitive is the operative term that need defining, but varies drastically based upon who is asked for their opinion. Merriam-Webster defines sensitive as "readily affected or changed by various agents." Speaking as a college student who has previously been active in, and is still active in various pro-2A activities and organizations, I can speak from experience that the college environment is NOT sensitive - rather it is closed minded and illogical in many subjects.

Ironically in Justice Breyer's dissenting opinion on page 43, there is a glimmer of hope. In regards to limitations addressed by the majority opinion, Justice Breyer plainly states "Why these? Is it that similar restrictions existed in the late 18th century?" While the Opinion of the Court goes into great historical detail and explanation back to colonial times to validate it's standing, one can not help but wonder why the locations that one may carry a firearm is ruled to be subject to restriction, much to the contrary of our fore father's time period.

Using the logic of a dissenting Justice and the material supplied by the majority opinion of the Court, one could argue that there is a theoretical right to carry a firearm legally on a college campus, or in almost any place known to man. However, this is not likely to be successful in a Court and legal restrictions will probably remain in place. The right of the people to carry firearms on college campuses will, for the foreseeable future, remain the same: non-existent in multiple states and localities.

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