As a professor at our local university campus, I have been part of the fight to stop House Bill 859, the “campus carry” act now on Gov. Nathan Deal’s desk. I have written an op-ed, appeared at a Capitol rally, become a subject of a news story in this paper, been interviewed on the radio, and of course had my picture splashed across the Internet.

While I have had some social media arguments from the opposition put to me, I have not had any personal attacks. Until Monday. On that day, I received an email from a resident of this area that not only called me vile and politically derogatory names I can’t repeat in a family newspaper, but hoped I “fester in (my) own blood if (I) ever have to defend (my)self when robbed or assaulted.”

I have also spent part of my class time in my First Year English courses discussing the issue as we have been discussing issues in higher education the whole semester. Those discussions have included students for and against the bill. They have included debates about values, rights and the purpose of education.

Not once has a student or I been personally degraded or devalued aloud. While I will assume some students have been offended by some comments in class or posted to our private discussion board, such discomfort has not resulted in ‘return fire.’

This type of atmosphere for debate — this type of education — is sometimes uncomfortable, but also important. It is what I want my classroom to be.

If we believe as a community in promoting education, we believe in explicating, understanding and accepting a diverse set of opinions and values and learning how to debate without resorting to name-calling and a hope for suffering on the other side.

Sadly, if nothing else, the email I received shows me “campus carry” will not get us any closer to a better debate, education or society. Guns in classrooms will radically change the classroom in ways we may never be able to articulate. And it is the loss of that articulation that may be the worst of the effects. Who would speak up when someone who promotes guns responds in such a manner as the email I received?

To be fair, I know many respectful gun owners, gun users, and people in favor of the bill. Yet the issue remains about the nature of guns and debate, the nature of education as a space that values concern for the other over desire for their misery.

“Campus carry” will not make us safer from each other. It will not protect the values we share as we seek to protect each other from those who threaten our society. It will only divide us more. Join me and urge the governor to veto it.

Dr. Matthew Boedy
Department of English, University of North Georgia, Gainesville