Students from more than 110 colleges, including Gonzaga, wore empty gun holsters from Oct. 22 to 26 in protest of the prohibition of firearms on campus.
In light of such events as the Virginia Tech shooting, some students think concealed handgun license holders should be allowed to carry weapons on campus in the name of self-defense.
"Virginia Tech is proof that a gun-free zone isn't necessarily safe," sophomore Tyler Spilker said. "If a person is intent on having a gun on campus, he or she will. Changing the policy would give people a chance to protect themselves."
Spilker, the campus representative for Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC), rallied students together to participate in the Empty Holster Protest through the use of Facebook. Protesters wore empty holsters to show how people on college campuses are defenseless because of state laws and campus policies.
"There is an unfair stigma in America. By having a gun, people think you are a certain type of person, but a majority of people who carry weapons are good people," Spilker said. "The weapon is a tool for defending yourself under the gravest of circumstances."
Not just anyone can get a license to carry a gun. To obtain a license in the state of Washington, the applicant must go through a rigorous process, including fingerprinting and a trip to the courthouse. Applicants must be older than 21 and submit to a background check. Protesters argue criminals will not go to these lengths to obtain weapons.
The SCCC also argues that if concealed handgun license holders are allowed to carry weapons nearly everywhere else in the state - from movie theaters to the bank - they should be able to extend the ability to defend their lives to campus as well.
State laws prohibit firearms on college campuses. However, as a private institution, Gonzaga is not subject to these laws.
Currently, Gonzaga's weapon policy forbids guns or weapons of any kind from school grounds, with the exception of active-duty commissioned police officers.
Despite the University's policy, protesters have faced little opposition in their demonstration. Before implementing the Empty Holster Protest on campus, Spilker spoke to Vice President of Student Life Sue Weitz about how to deal with making such a controversial statement.
"I support a student's right to protest or question a policy," Weitz said. "That's what Gonzaga is about. We encourage critical thinking and asking questions."
Along with Director of Campus Security Jeff Hart, Weitz sent out a letter to faculty members notifying them of the weeklong demonstration. Due to the sensitivity of the issue, instructors were given permission to respectfully ask students to remove their holsters when inside the classroom. However, no one was asked to. Spilker and other protesters hope their message will not be misunderstood by the Gonzaga community.
"I'm not advocating that everyone should carry a weapon or that Gonzaga should enforce a new policy tomorrow," Spilker said. "People with licenses should have the option for self-defense."
Spilker encourages students interested in more information to e-mail him at tspiker@gonzaga.edu or visit the SCCC web site at www.concealedcampus.org.
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