"Signs can't stop violence... armed students can."  This is a sign I was staring at during my public speaking class today, an ad for concealedcampus.com, website for the group Students for Concealed Carry on Campus.

The group's objectives are to educate the public about carrying concealed weapons and to eventually get legislative approval for licensed handgun holders to carry concealed handguns on campus.  Why?  To avoid campus shootings much like those at Virginia Tech.

If I had a say in the matter, I'd say this was a stupid idea.  Campuses like Penn State and Virginia Tech are so big that there would never a "concealed carrier" somewhere at all times.  And also, it will only take one incident of a carrier accidentally shooting at someone who is really just goofing off for the entire program to be abolished.

If intimidation is the goal, then potential violent students will find a way around it.  They're usually pretty smart, manipulative people who could figure out how to avoid these "concealed carriers."  Or what happens when a concealed carrier turns out to actually be a violent student?  It could happen.

I'm not saying it's a totally bad idea, but just think about all the loopholes.  More info on this group at www.concealedcampus.com