Colin Lundholm, 22, is a former military police officer who would like to carry his legal, concealed handgun to classes at Red Rocks Community College. But, like most campuses in Colorado, Red Rocks is off-limits to people carrying a gun. Lundholm is taking classes in law enforcement and eventually would like to work for the FBI or another federal agency.
“I grew up in Eagle, Colorado, but I never shot a weapon until I went into the military. Then, I was used to having one on me all the time,” Lundholm said.
“Knowing hand-to-hand combat and how to avoid certain situations just isn’t enough sometimes. Wearing it makes you more aware of what’s going on around you.”
Lundholm talks of the gun as protection not necessarily for himself but for other people — including the sister-in-law and her young child with whom he shares a home.
“I feel a responsibility to those around me who have not had any training and who may be helpless.
“Most people who have concealed-carry weapons are not vigilantes looking for a fight. There are a lot of police who go their whole career without having to shoot, but that small chance of helping somebody makes it worth it to me.”
The Red Rocks campus police chief has said students might be afraid if they saw Lundholm’s gun.
Impossible, he responds.
“I carry it inside the waistband, in a small holster. I’m very careful that nobody sees it. I don’t want to draw attention to myself.”
He rejects the idea that schools of any kind can be an island of special rules.
“Schools are a gun-free zone? The bad guy doesn’t care about that. Nineteen of the 32 people killed at Virginia Tech were old enough to have a concealed-carry weapon.”
— Michael Booth
