Abstract

This study explored the impact of college major and support for the Constitutional rights to free speech and to bear arms established in the First and Second Amendments on student perceptions of armed campuses using survey methodology. It found that all three variables contribute to students’ perceptions on the impact of campus carry laws. Students with Criminal Justice/Legal Studies related majors were significantly more likely to support the right to bear arms and to support freedom of speech than Journalism/Communications majors. In general, students supported the First Amendment at higher levels than the Second Amendment. A majority of students reported that they would feel less secure if campus carry laws were in place on their campus, agreed that they would change their behavior in the classroom, and agreed that they would refrain from classroom discussions. Individuals who were comfortable with firearms and supported the Second Amendment were less likely to feel that they would change their behaviors on an armed campus, and individuals who supported the First Amendment were more likely to perceive that they would change their behavior with campus carry laws in place. Implications of these findings to policy debates about campus carry laws are discussed.

摘要

本研究使用调查方法探讨了大学专业和对宪法第一和第二修正案中确立的言论自由和持枪权利的支持对学生对武装校园的看法的影响。它发现所有三个变量都有助于学生对校园携带法影响的看法。刑事司法/法律研究相关专业的学生比新闻/传播专业的学生更有可能支持携带武器的权利和支持言论自由。一般来说，学生对第一修正案的支持程度高于第二修正案。大多数学生报告说，如果校园实施法律，他们会感到不那么安全，同意他们会改变他们在课堂上的行为，并同意他们将避免课堂讨论。对枪支感到满意并支持第二修正案的人不太可能觉得他们会在武装校园中改变自己的行为，而支持第一修正案的人更有可能认为他们会在校园携带法下改变自己的行为地方。讨论了这些发现对有关校园携带法的政策辩论的影响。