Due to several campus shootings, some states have contemplated the idea of whether or not to authorize guns on campus colleges. For some states, shootings are situations that point in a need to allow concealed carry weapons on campus. On the other hand, other states seek to the need to strict restrictions on keeping guns off campuses. Since the legalization of licensed concealed carry of handguns on Texas colleges and universities has been an issue of debate, the most important role for any institution is to provide a safe learning environment, and this can be accomplish by creating school programs that promote training and awareness for students. The main goal for any higher education institution is to provide a safe campus for all its students, …show more content…
Student affairs professionals should play a lead role in “organizing and presenting training opportunities and promoting the community responsibility of heightened awareness” (Jablonski, 2008, p.11). Awareness training opportunities should begin to be presented during orientation and continuously offered to students, parents, faculty and staff (Holloway et al., 2009, p. 20). Part of the awareness should be in making students to be part of preventive measures. Jablonski (2008) argues that “students should be considered and trained to recognize signs of distress in fellow students” (p.2). Therefore, preventative measures should include information on conflict management, as well, training students and faculty to watch for any warnings signs that could prevent any future shootings (Jablonski, 2008, p. 11). According to an U.S Secret Service study, about half of the attacks of thirty-seven school shootings were resolved and ended before police forces responded to the scene (“Students for Concealed” n.d.). Violence on college campuses is something that can be prevented by increasing awareness and offering training opportunities, students should take a huge role in this prevention since they have a stronger interaction with their peers more than with any other faculty of