“Wow, what a concept,” she said. “You have to wonder if these people have ever heard of the cycle of violence. Every time we respond to violence with violence, we up the violence. It’s ridiculous.”

Tahlequah High School Principal Dr. Nick Migliorino attended Thursday’s HIC conference. Recently, students posted cell-phone videos of fights in the cafeteria on YouTube, an Internet video site. Shortly after the video was posted, a report appeared on a Tulsa television news station. Despite numerous calls from concerned residents to the Daily Press and other media outlets, Migliorino indicated he’s personally received few complaints from parents.

“So far, the parents haven’t called me,” he said. “The media has been very sensitive to this issue. I’ve asked the students who have posted the videos on YouTube to take them off, and with the exception of one student, they all agreed.”

Migliorino said there is little the school can do to prevent this kind of video posting, and he could only speculate whether some of the “fights” may have been staged. He did acknowledge that cell phone video had become a problem. “No kids can, with the click of a small button, video anything,” said Migliorino. “The minute someone starts mouthing off, click! and it’s on video.”

When Migliorino learned of HB 2232, he was livid.

“Guns are strictly prohibited on school property, regardless of age,” said Migliorino. “However, if this law passes, we’ll look to up the number of gun-sniffing dogs we have on campus.”

Parrott agrees with this approach, and believes prevention is better than arming students. “I would much rather see things along the lines of armed guards, limited and monitored entrances with the necessary equipment to prevent weapons from being brought in, random security sweeps, canine patrols, and bar-code identification cards,” said Parrott. “I know that sounds very ‘Big Brother,’ but I would rather my granddaughters be protected by trained personnel than be allowed to carry a concealed weapon.”

NSU Associate Professor of Accounting Dr. John Yeutter supports the concept of HB 2513, citing a nationwide movement - www.concealedcampus. org - to allow licensed individuals to carry weapons on campus.

“For me, this is true both theoretically and practically,” said Yeutter. “I believe the Second Amendment was written to provide for the right of individuals to protect themselves. I walk across campus on a daily basis, often arriving before sunrise and leaving after dark. In the fall of 2002, I was confronted in my classroom by a student behaving in such an erratic manner that all the students felt an imminent threat, and when they had the opportunity, bolted for the door. Because of this, I see the need for properly licensed faculty to carry self-defense weapons. I would also like to see the universities [introduce] firearms training classes into the curriculum.”

NSU officials released a statement Thursday afternoon, opposing the plan to permit students to carry handguns.

“The campus shootings that have occurred during the past year are tragic reminders that all of our campuses are potential targets for these violent acts, and that it is virtually impossible to prevent these incidents,” states the release. “Adding more guns to an already volatile situation should not be the resolution.”

Officials noted safety is a priority at NSU, and many programs have been introduced – including development of emergency communication systems to alert faculty, staff and students of an emergency; requiring campus police to be CLEET-certified; conducting extensive training for active shooter situations; and establishing an emergency response team.

“This progress becomes substantially ineffective if concealed weapons are in the possession of untrained people; even though they may be licensed, it will dramatically compound the safety and security concerns of our campuses,” states the NSU release.

Yeutter pointed out the bill, as it reads, contained some unusual language that could exclude employees from carrying concealed weapons.

“Any employer should have the right to regulate whether its employees ... are armed,” he said. “But in this circumstance, this would place university faculty in the potentially dangerous position of being disarmed by their employer, while the students ... would be free to carry firearms. I have communicated with Rep. Murphey, and he assures me he will propose a floor amendment to allow properly licensed faculty to carry.”