Guns on Campus, 1824

[jimmy the one]

Written in 1824, the rules set down by Jefferson when founding the University of Virginia, stated: "No student shall, within the precincts of the University, introduce, keep or use any spirituous or vinous liquors, keep or use weapons or arms of any kind, or gunpowder, keep a servant, horse or dog, appear in school with a stick, or any weapon .." http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-rodda/david-barton-claims-that-_b_2674891.html

That from Ms. Chris Rodda, that fine historian who debunks rightwing authors & 2nd Amendment Mythology. In link below she, well, justifiably lauds her success for debunking 2ndA zealot david barton, when his book was later adjudged by HNN readers as: the 'Least Credible History Book in Print'.

Chris Rodda: One year ago today, on April 10, 2012, a new book hit the shelves -- David Barton's The Jefferson Lies: Exposing the Myths You've Always Believed About Thomas Jefferson.
Although Barton has been writing "history" books for well over two decades, he was relatively unknown outside of evangelical Christian circles and those of us who fight historical revisionism until a few years ago, when Glenn Beck, by making him his resident "historian" and new BFF, propelled him to Christian nationalist rock star status. To the disdain of history lovers and real historians, Barton's Jefferson Lies rose to #11 on Amazon and became a NY Times bestseller.
Barton's book was, of course, met with immediate criticism and debunkings from the usual suspects (like me) who have been exposing his historical hogwash for years, and in July, it was voted the "Least Credible History Book in Print" by readers of the History News Network. None of this criticism and exposing of the numerous blatant lies in Barton's book, however, was anything that Barton hadn't dealt with before from the secularists who seek to destroy America's Christian heritage. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/chris-rodda/one-year-ago-today-the-le_b_3048771.html

Oh, & Chris lists a bunch of early gun accidents, debunking barton:

1 Litchfield Monitor, Litchfield, Conn- Apr10, 1793: "On Tuesday the 9th inst. Wm Case, aged 18, died of a wound received in his right arm by the accidental discharge of a musket.. the deceased, in company with a young man of the neighbourhood, went in pursuit of ducks: On their way to the pond, the unfortunate, being forward of his companion, whose gun unhappily went off, the contents was lodged as above; he died a few days after the accident. -- It is hoped that this accident, among others, will be a lesson of caution to those who either for sport or exercise make use of fire arms."
2 Philadelphia Gazette, Sept 12, 1795:"A FATAL ACCIDENT. "On Tuesday last, a daughter of Mr. Thomas Davis, was at a Mr. Strutton of Amherst, and no person being present but children, a little son of Mr. Strutton, took up a loaded rifle, and while handling the piece, unfortunately discharged the ball through the head of Mr. Davis' daughter, at which instant she fell, and lay a considerable time before any grown person arrived. -- A lesson to the incautious heads of families."
3 Rural Repository, Leominster, Massachusetts, June 2, 1796: "ACCIDENT. - Hopkinton, last week a boy, about 14 years old, was shot by accident, as follows: another boy who was with him, not knowing the gun to be loaded, pointed at his side, and snapping it, the gun being charged, its contents entered one side -- medical assistance was called; but, alas! too late -- Death had seized him."

[jimmy the one]

1. jefferson's letter to his nephew, 1795

I should also point out that 'guns on campus' was evidently discretionary then, while also far less dangerous than today's highly sophisticated firearms.
Thomas Jefferson gave this advice to his nephew attending another Virginia college, Wm & Mary, 30 years earlier in 1795.
Jefferson then advised his nephew when walking on campus, to Let your gun therefore be the constant companion of your walks.
But this is not what it seems to be, jefferson was not advising his nephew to carry a gun for self defense or to be armed, but, believe it or not, to aid in the daily exercise of walking about! The gun ostensibly would add to the weight & build up muscles, & perhaps aid in gun handling for future militia service. Nowhere does jefferson write that the gun should be used for self defense, or even be loaded. He does say it gives 'boldness' to the mind by carrying a gun while walking, tho at the same time says to 'relax' ones mind:

thomas jefferson to his nephew, 1795: In order to assure a certain progress in this reading, consider what hours you have free from the school and the exercises of the school. Give about two of them, every day, to exercise; for health must not be sacrificed to learning. A strong body makes the mind strong. As to the species of exercise, I advise the gun. While this gives a moderate exercise to the body, it gives boldness, enterprise, and independence to the mind.
Games played with the ball, and others of that nature, are too violent for the body, and stamp no character on the mind. Let your gun therefore be the constant companion of your walks. Never think of taking a book with you. The object of walking is to relax the mind. You should therefore not permit yourself even to think while you walk; but divert your attention by the objects surrounding you.
Walking is the best possible exercise. Habituate yourself to walk very far. The Europeans value themselves on having subdued the horse to the uses of man; but I doubt whether we have not lost more than we have gained, by the use of this animal. No one has occasioned so much, the degeneracy of the human body. An Indian goes on foot nearly as far in a day, for a long journey, as an enfeebled white does on his horse; and he will tire the best horses. There is no habit you will value so much as that of walking far without fatigue.
I would advise you to take your exercise in the afternoon: not because it is the best time for exercise, for certainly it is not; but because it is the best time to spare from your studies; and habit will soon reconcile it to health, and render it nearly as useful as if you gave to that the more precious hours of the day. A little walk of half an hour, in the morning, when you first rise, is advisable also. It shakes off sleep, and produces other good effects in the animal economy. Rise at a fixed and an early hour, and go to bed at a fixed and early hour also. http://avalon.law.yale.edu/18th_century/let31.asp

[Kingofalldems]

2. Why did Thomas Jefferson hate America?

[freshwest]

3. Thanks, jimmy the one, for the history lesson!

[NYC_SKP]

4. "any spirituous or vinous liquors"

Well it's true that these do NOT go well with gunpowder!