摘要：We examined student support for a policy that would allow carrying of concealed handguns on university campuses. Large percentages of students at 2 universities expressed very low levels of comfort with the idea of permitting concealed handgun carrying on campus, suggesting that students may not welcome less restrictive policies. Students held slightly different opinions about concealed handguns on and off campus, suggesting that they view the campus environment as unique with respect to concealed handgun carrying. In response to shootings on college campuses, several states have considered legislation that would allow individuals possessing a concealed handgun license to carry concealed handguns on campus. 1 In Texas, a bill allowing licensed individuals to carry concealed handguns on campus passed the state senate in May 2011 but was struck down in a procedural move in the house. 2 Some research has measured the general public’s opinions about the presence of concealed handguns at universities. 3,4 A few studies have also characterized gun carrying among college students, with results showing that students carrying guns are more likely to be male and White, to engage in binge drinking and risky behaviors, to be in trouble with the police, and to attend college in the southern and mountain states. 5–7 With the exception of binge drinking and risky behaviors, which have only recently been linked to gun ownership and carrying, 8 these results generally conform to studies of guns among other populations in the country. 9–18 However, research on college students’ views on gun control is exceedingly rare. 19
