The AP recently released an article about the increase of semi-automatic weapons and rifles on colleges campuses.

The article explains how the increase in mass shootings and campus shootings have created a series of questions about whether or not college campuses are ready for an extreme crisis.

According to the article, “In the nine years since Virginia Tech, more carnage has followed: Six dead at Northern Illinois University. Seven more at California’s Oikos University. Ten dead last year at Umpqua Community College in Oregon.”

Currently, University Police is equipped with patrol rifles, according to Oswego State University Police Lt. Barbeau. The patrol rifles are provided for each officer on duty. The rifles are locked and secured in the on-duty officer’s car and are only seen or used for emergencies.

In the case of a school shooter, University Police has undergone training to assure the safety of students. Officers available in the area would respond to the active shooter. Two man teams would then enter the building where the shooter is located and proceed to take the shooter out if necessary.

Barbeau feels it’s necessary to have such weaponry provided to University Police.

“The perpetrator has a high powered weapon instead of a handgun,” Barbeau said. “You want to try to meet with the same amount of force, if not more than the perpetrator has. The rifle provides more range and better accuracy than a handgun.”

Some students are concerned with the use of the guns due to the abuse of power by some officers around the Untied States. Others are less worried knowing Oswego State is prepared in case of an emergency if state police could not arrive in a timely manner.

Sasha Huff, president of the Black Student Union and a resident assistant on the west side of campus, has mixed feelings about rifles on campus.

“I do feel kinda safe, but then again the way some police brutality and abusive power works I don’t think UP puts us at risk,” Huff said. “I feel safe, but in a way we have those rifles on campus is scary.”

According to the SUNY website, on Jan. 20, 2016, SUNY police have launched “Train the Trainer” program in order to ensure fair or fix impartial policing.

“State University of New York Chancellor Nancy L. Zimpher and University Police Commissioner Paul Berger today announced that 24 officers from throughout SUNY recently completed a national Fair and Impartial Policing (FIP) training program in Syracuse,” according to a SUNY press release. “The officers will begin providing training to their colleagues on campus and regionally throughout 2016.”

The program, run by Lt. Col. JoAnn D. Johnson from the Illinois State Police Division of Internal Investigation and Anna Laszlo, managing partner and chief operating officer of Fair and Impartial Policing LLC, is to help deal with the unconscious bias most people have. By addressing the bias, officers can understand how this might affect their judgment and learn how to deal with this in a manner that it does not affect the public.

Leonardo Rivera, a teacher’s assistant and desk attendant at Sheldon Hall, was pleased to hear about the decision to have rifles locate on campus.

“I feel more safe knowing University Police can respond to an emergency as quickly as it emerges,” Rivera said. “I mean think about it, how long would it take for state police to arrive to campus in case of an emergency? How long would it take for state police to find the protatrator on campus? University Police has the upper-hand due to their emergency training and having the right equipment to do what they feel necessary.”

University police in Oswego are required to go through weapon proficiency training twice a year. Some of the officers also go to shooting ranges to stay sharp.