Issue 155

Virginia Tech: Your Views

08th May 2007

Here are some views of our students here in Swansea on how safe they feel in campus and the gun culture that dominates in American soctiey...

Steve, 22. Third Year, Geography

He feels safe on campus and couldn't imagine an incident like that happening here. He thinks that this type of thing puts you off, or would make you think twice, about studying in America.

He mentioned the fact that he feels safer here than he thinks he would in America as if there is trouble over here you would not worry too much as it's normally a confrontation.

However, if trouble started over there, you would always be wondering if they have a weapon on them to attack you with.

Dawn, 20. Second Year, English & American Studies

She feels safe on Swansea campus and couldn't imagine a shooting happening here. On the gun culture in America, she realises it is part of their culture but thinks the laws have become to lax. It would be impossible to get rid of them so perhaps tightening the laws would be a solution, she suggests.

She thinks that things like that are part of life there as you hear of them often on the news. However she doesn't think there is more risk over there compared to here as if it's going to happen it will happen.

Sophie, 19. First Year, Early childhood studies

On the whole, she feels pretty safe on campus and when questioned how she thought we would cope if that like that happened on our campus she said "God help us!" However, she can't imagine something like that happening here in Swansea, although you can never say never. She thinks that the gun culture in America is getting out of control and is glad that guns are banned in our country as there will always be people who cause problems by being wreckless with guns and ultimately resulting in a tragedy.

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