When I enrolled in college I immediately went to ConcealedCampus.org to join Students for Concealed Carry, only to find
that Community College of Allegheny County did not have one. In the words of Winston Churchill "I was not the lion, but it
fell to me to give the lion's roar." was the quote I put on the full color tri-fold handouts I began giving out, trying to
muster the support of enough students to start an official student club.
Everywhere I met with students who had similar interests, but none who would join - due to a fear of some kind of "black
mark" on their college career. I dismissed it as nonsense; after all Pitt had no trouble starting SCCC, and CMU simply has
a "Gun Club",.. until I was scheduled for a meeting with the Dean of Student Development, Yvonne Burns.
Dean Burns let me know, in no uncertain terms, that this club would never be allowed at CCAC. She ordered me to destroy
all documentation related to it, and to cease discussing firearms with other students. She kept repeating "do you have any
idea how serious this is?" Hopefully, by now, she understands what I meant when I fervently agreed, "Yes, this is incredibly
important." It is important that people see that college students are American citizens, with civil rights. It is important
that college administrators not infringe the 1st amendment rights of a student for using them to support their 2nd
amendment rights. It is important that the image of a gun not evoke feelings of fear and suspicion in an urban community in
the United States. Yes, this is incredibly important.
That's when, in the middle of being threatened with various unsupportable academic punishments for my supposed misconduct,
a week before finals, I came up with the idea of a Second Amendment Rights event - right here in Pittsburgh, put together
by students.
The trouble with my college is ongoing at this time.
