Coverage of Concealed Handguns on College Campuses in Louisiana

This has been compiled by W. Scott Lewis. He is concerned that the editorial coverage has not been very balanced. To really answer this question, we would have to know the rate that op-ed pieces were submitted to these papers.

These are the editorials and op-ed pieces that opposed this legislation that ran in Louisiana newspapers prior to today (June 4).

ALEXANDRIA
Our view: Guns on campus a last resort not first steps

BATON ROUGE
Our Views: Shoot down bill on campus guns

HAMMOND
EDITORIAL: Pack books, not heat

LAFAYETTE
EDITORIAL: Don't allow weapons on campus

MONROE
EDITORIAL: Let's holster the handguns
http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080506/OPINION01/805060305/1014/OPINION
At ULM: Keep campus clear of guns
http://www.thenewsstar.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080511/OPINION/805110307/1014/OPINION

NEW ORLEANS
EDITORIAL: Tote books, not guns
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1209792197137960.xml&coll=1
Column: Weapons of class destruction
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/deberry/index.ssf?/base/News/1209878517273580.xml&coll=1
EDITORIAL: Campus no place for guns
http://www.nola.com/news/t-p/frontpage/index.ssf?/base/news-4/1211779281168830.xml&coll=1

SHREVEPORT
Editorial: Concealed-carry guns have no place on college campuses
Joseph Savoie: Guns will make campuses dangerous (also ran in Lake Charles)

Throughout the state of Louisiana, these two letters were the only pro-HB 199 opinion pieces published.

SHREVEPORT
David Burnett: Disarming citizens emboldens criminals

BATON ROUGE
Letter: Support passage of campus gun bill

During the past three weeks, the Students for Concealed Carry on Campus media team, SCCC's campus leaders at Louisiana colleges, SCCC's former media coordinator (me), and other Louisiana residents bombarded Louisiana newspapers with op-ed pieces and letters supporting HB 199 (two of those op-ed pieces and two of those letters are included in the attached PDF document). None were published. I held out hope that perhaps the publications were saving the letters to print today, the day of the House vote on HB 199. Sadly, the only letters about HB 199 that ran today were two letters--both written by high school students--opposing it, one published in The Baton Rouge Advocate and one published in in The Lafayette Daily Advertiser.

BATON ROUGE
Letter: Don't pass campus gun legislation

LAFAYETTE
Students oppose guns on campus

Of course, this is only a look at the opinion pieces. It doesn't even touch on the slanted news articles, such as this one that ran today:

SHREVEPORT
Guns, taxes on tap in House today