This letter is in response to the article, “Gun Debate For DPS Continues.”

I think it would be perfectly fine for DPS officers to carry weapons. I don’t understand how Senator Blackburn can justify leaving our campus just because officers of the law are carrying guns.

If Senator Blackburn is a law-abiding citizen then she should have no fear of being shot by a DPS officer. DPS officer’s are just as fully trained as police officers, and if I were a DPS officer I sure would want to have a gun, on a safe campus or not.

I know if some gun-crazed lunatic was holding a pistol to my head I would be a little upset if the first person on the scene was a DPS officer armed only with a flashlight and a can if pepper mace.

I also know that if I were the officer I would be more than likely to sit in my car and wait for the Ames Police to arrive.

I also see no reason for minorities, or for that matter any student, to be afraid of DPS officers. As far as I know there haven’t been any instances of a crazed officer going around beating people up for no reason.

I ask Senator Blackburn, and the GSB, should we wait until innocent lives are lost to consider arming DPS officers?

James L. Harrison

Freshman

Pre-Computer Engineering

Norman House Vice-President