Last week a HB 1195 passed in the North Dakota House of Representatives that would effectively allow concealed weapons in schools. When I first read about this bill I had to make sure I wasn’t reading an article on The Onion.

The bill, which is on its way to the state Senate, would allow approved concealed and carry license holders to carry weapons in schools. I know this sounds absurd, but I am not joking. Addressing the issue of gun violence should not be done with the very beast that’s causing the problem.

The proponents of the bill claim it protects for rural communities, in which first responders can take more than thirty minutes to respond to emergencies. I admit this is certainly a prevalent issue. But allowing the general public to handle emergencies on their own with their own guns, is not the way to solve the issue.

Unfortunately, the issue of gun control has faded from the national spotlight. I, however, still find gun control to be an incredibly important issue. Obama, and the larger caucus of Democratic lawmakers have veered away from the issue as they realize any progress on the matter to be nearly impossible facing Republican majorities.

Let me be clear in saying I am not on the side of those with extreme  ideals of total gun extermination. I simply cannot dispute the fact that gun ownership is a constitutional right that will never disappear.

Nevertheless, American communities need to address responsible gun ownership. Allowing guns in schools, even through strict approval methods, is simply not the way to create a safe environment of responsibility.

Take a minute to think about what kind of message the bill sends. It essentially says violence in schools is expected, and that we want to protect children by allowing guns in schools.

This logic is terribly misguided.

Children should not have to go to school knowing there is the possibility of a looming threat. With this bill we would be acknowledging there’s a problem with gun violence. But instead of attacking the problem head on, we choose an alternative that seems conceptually easy as a path of least resistance.

For instance, when we are allergic to something we don’t fix our allergic reaction with more exposure to the allergen. Instead, we target the problem, (the allergen), isolate it and, most importantly, avoid it.

The same thought process could be applied to responsible gun ownership. The focus needs be toward education regarding responsibility. We need to cultivate school environments that focus on a sense of safety, community and confidence. Allowing guns in schools cultivates an environment of fear, which is no doubt a preposterous atmosphere for children.

I will admit this approach is hard, time consuming and even a little bit grandiose. I do think attacking responsible gun ownership head on is a possibility. But the first step is addressing the problem, not delaying the issue with band-aid types of solutions such as HB 1195.

In other words, we need a step back and recognize the intricacies of the issue instead of merely approving haphazard measures that are entirely temporary.

I fear the bill’s passage in the Senate, but I can only hope wiser minds prevail.

In the meantime, I encourage you to research the bill yourself, and if you are as inclined as I am give state lawmakers a call. More importantly though, I hope we can all give gun control another thought.

Responsible gun control is still a prevalent issue, and I welcome any argument otherwise. As an informed citizenry it would be irresponsible to let a silly and altogether misguided bill such as this become law.

Colin Mummery is a staff writer for The Dakota Student. He can be reached at [email protected].