Bang! In January, the Student Government Association will vote on whether to charter the Gun Awareness and Marksmanship Education Club. Founded by students about one year ago and currently on a four-month probationary status, the club hopes to create a place for itself on campus as an advocate for the right to own firearms.
“Our purpose is to educate people about gun safety and education,” said senior Tom Applewhite, president of GAME. “We don’t want people to be afraid of firearms, and an official presence on campus will allow any concerns or issues to be openly addressed.”
The group is an issue-based organization in favor of the Second Amendment, that is, “the right of the people to keep and bear arms.” A.J. Schultz, member of GAME and a second-year student in the School of Law, said that the Second Amendment is a nonpartisan issue and, thus, the group is open to all students, regardless of their political affiliation.
“We are a group that promotes a part of the Bill of Rights. How can anyone oppose a part of the Bill of Rights?” Schultz said.
“There is potential that this group will be controversial, just as any issue-focused organization would be,” said Sam Howard, junior and executive vice president of the Student Government Association.
Howard has been working with Applewhite and other GAME members since the summer to lead the organization through the chartering process and discuss the group’s vision and constitution.
GAME’s constitution states that “by default, any member who demonstrates irresponsibility with a firearm shall have their membership revoked immediately, regardless of rank or position.”
Unlike the club’s acronym, firearms are not a game, said Applewhite. He said that the group will emphasize safety and will work to eliminate people’s fear of firearms. He also said the organization will never use or ask for funding from the University toward bullets or firearms.
“With the exception of public safety officers, we do not support allowing guns on campus,” Applewhite said.
Applewhite said that the group would like to host Chris Cox, head of the National Rifle Association’s Institute of Legislative Action, as a guest speaker in March of 2008. The group is also planning a showing of Michael Moore’s 2002 film Bowling for Columbine as well as a follow-up discussion about the ideas of firearms presented in the film.
“We are not a violent group, and we are working against the misconception that guns equal violence,” Applewhite said.
“Guns are a part of society, and it’s part of our civic duty to use them responsibly. GAME seeks to achieve this end,” Schultz said.
Schultz said that the club will continue, even if the charter is not approved.
