The College Republicans hosted a representative from the National Rifle Association to speak to students about gun laws and NRA activity Monday during their weekly meeting.
The talk was a part of the NRA University program, which according to the NRA website is “an effort to educate the next generation of gun rights advocates on exercising and maintaining their constitutionally guaranteed Right to Keep and Bear Arms.”
Third-year College student Ali Hiestand, chair of the College Republicans, said she hoped the presentation informed current University students both about the activities of the NRA and about current gun laws.
“One of the strongest platforms of the Republican Party is protecting the Second Amendment, and I think that's something — a value, rather — both the Republican Party and the NRA hold strongly,” Hiestand said. “I think it’s something that’s not really discussed as much on college campuses, so we wanted to bring in someone who was an expert on that.”
The organization incentivized potential attendees with the promise of free food and NRA hats. Attendees were also given a brochure with the opportunity to sign up for a free Freedom Associate Membership. This brought over 50 people to the event.
Speaker Patrick DeStefano, a campaign field representative for the NRA, began the presentation by welcoming everyone and promising a free NRA shirt to people who answered his questions. He continued the discussion by explaining that the NRA is a single-issue group, their sole mission being to protect the Second Amendment.
“One thing we all do agree on is the Second Amendment,” DeStefano said. “That is why we forever will be single issue.”
DeStefano also discussed some of the NRA’s public programs including the National School Shield program, which provides grants and training to schools across the country in order to improve their security, and the Eddie Eagle GunSafe program, which attempts to decrease gun accidents by educating children on what to do if they encounter a gun.
A prevalent part of the presentation focused on campus activism, and DeStefano explained how students can get more involved with the NRA.
Additionally, DeStefano talked about specific positions the NRA has taken on gun-related issues and invited responses from students.
“We are against any gun-free zone,” DeStefano said.
The NRA supports campus carry. When asked what he thought about students being allowed to have guns on college campuses, third-year College student Dylan Carmichael said it’s something worth testing out.
“I think it’s something that maybe Universities ought to try out, and if something bad did happen, maybe take it back,” Carmichael said.
Other students in attendance had opposing views on the issue.
“I just think I would feel more unsafe if I knew students were having guns,” third-year College student Brianna Young said.
Throughout the presentation, DeStefano provided information about current gun laws and covered statistics regarding gun safety. Some of the attendees said they found the discussion of the NRA and its activities helpful.
“I found out stuff I didn't know — like [there are] different court appeals that I had no idea about that actually affected gun rights,” Carmichael said. “So it was really informative.”
However, not all attendees felt informed by DeStefano’s information. Some said they felt his presentation was too one-sided and only offered information about the safety and benefit of guns.
“Everything he said was kind of supporting his statement,” Young said. “I would kind of like to see what the other side says because it’s hard to trust their statistics when [they are] coming from them.”
The College Republicans are set to meet again next Monday.
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