I received this email today from the President of Cornell:

Dear Cornellian,

The tragic loss of life that took place yesterday on the campus of Northern Illinois University has stunned everyone throughout the Cornell community.  We extend to the Northern Illinois University community our condolences, and we offer our support, today and through the difficult times ahead.

While there can be no guarantee against such behavior, there is much we are doing to prevent such an occurrence.  Should you need support, please be reminded our counseling staff is available at (607) 255-5155.

To help promote the entire community’s safety, there are actions you can undertake that will make a big difference. We urge you to program your cell phone to speed dial 911 and the university’s own police hotline at (607) 255-1111.  Another option is to update your emergency contact information and add your cell phone number to www.whoiam.cornell.edu so that you can be contacted more readily in the event of an emergency.

On behalf of the Cornell community, I offer my deepest sympathy to all those who have been affected by this tragedy.

David J. Skorton
President

Stating the obvious:  Calling 911 is a good idea in the case of the arrival of a crazed gunman.

Stating what should be the obvious but apparently is not:

Fact 1:  Gun free zones are often large public areas with crowds of people.

Fact 2:  Gunmen shoot unarmed people in gun free zones.

Fact 3:  People die in gun free zones.

Fact 4:  Fewer people would die in gun free zones if they weren’t gun free.

I’d like to tell President Skorton where to put his “actions” that promote community safety.  I’m sure he well-intentioned, but the availability of 911 and updated emergency contact information does not comfort me when I spend 8 of 12 months living on a giant target known as a gun free campus.

If I were the President of a university campus with 20,000 students and who knows how many staff, these would be my suggested actions to promote community safety, in light of a year with multiple college campus shootings, mall shootings, and church shootings:

1. Enroll in PE 371 - Introduction to Handgun Safety and Marksmanship.  I can personally vouch for the thoroughness and usefulness of this course.
2. Once you have taken PE 371, come to Day Hall where you can pick up your handgun to conceal and carry.
3. In the case of an emergency (read:  crazed gunman), while your friends call 911, you take aim and fire.