It is interesting to hear people say that DPS officers should not be armed because the Ames police department can respond.

Did you know that most cops who die in the line of duty are killed while making traffic stops and responding to domestic abuse calls.

When a cop needs his/her gun there is no time to call another agency.

FBI statistics show that nearly 90 percent of all officer-involved shootings are over in less than three seconds.

It is also interesting to hear people say that this campus isn’t violent enough to warrant arming DPS.

I have news for you. It is no different from the rest of Iowa. Turn on the news and you will hear about some random shooting in some little town in Iowa. Possibly someone who was just fired or who had family problems, that could easily become a student who just failed a test or just broke up with his or her boyfriend or girlfriend.

Another argument is that guns aren’t on campus now so we don’t need them. Don’t kid yourself.

That’s like saying there are no drugs on campus either. There are students in the residence halls who have guns in their rooms. They aren’t supposed to, but they probably won’t get caught and they know this.

Besides, guns are not the only form of deadly force. More people are killed each year by knives and impact weapons such as bats and clubs than with guns.

As far as the GSBdebate on keeping DPS unarmed, and Yasmin Blackburn’s quote: “Do you understand what law enforcement is? Are you breaking the law? Why would you fear an unarmed police officer?” Your argument makes absolutely no sense.

If you are concerned about being a target of racial violence, wouldn’t you want an armed officer to respond if your attacker were armed with a weapon?

As far as leaving Iowa State, I would discourage that because a degree from ISUis a prize and it will help you get a good job.

Also, Iowa’s three universities are the only universities with unarmed police forces. And if ISUis armed, UNI and Iowa will be also.

Where would you go? To a private college? The city police most likely patrol the campus and you can bet they are armed.

If GSBis debating anything, they should be telling the Board of Regents that we, the student body, want our police force armed.

We are appalled that they would think an unarmed DPS would be able to do its job of protecting and serving the ISUpopulation to its fullest ability.

Darrin Van Ryswyk

Senior

Chemistry and Criminal

Justice