True North

Last spring, Ed and I covered the ongoing story of Troy Scheffler, a student at Hamline University who was apparently suspended and told to seek mental health treatment after speaking in favor of individual, armed self-defense in the wake of the Virginia Tech mass-murder.

King from SCSU Scholars notes that while some people get it…:

The interim suspension, enforced on April 23, continues in place to this day, according to a press release from the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education.

“Hamline’s punishment of Troy Scheffler is severe, unfair, and apparently unwarranted,” FIRE President Greg Lukianoff said. “Peacefully advocating for students’ ability to carry a concealed weapon as a response to the Virginia Tech shootings may be controversial, but it simply does not justify ordering a mandatory psychological evaluation.”

…others - like Hamline University - clearly do not: 

There has been no movement, apparently, since Mitch and Ed interviewed him. I had a chance to talk with Troy before he went on their show and I did not find anything in him that appeared in any way “nutty”.

Beyond that, Scheffler is a concealed carry permit holder in the state of Minnesota; he’s over 21, has passed a background check and a training course, is free of any record of drug or alcohol abuse or violent mental illness, and has never had a cop note that he has a penchant for violence.  He is, demonstrably and statistically, a supremely good risk.

No, Hamline University; it isn’t about his mental health.  It’s about his beliefs:

 But apparently the willingness of a person to argue for concealed carry permits as a way of defending yourself on a campus from a Virginia Tech-style homicidal rage is so far outside Hamline’s experience as to lead to such speculation. And, it would appear, reason to deny Scheffler any form of due process within Hamline’s judicial system.

I’ve continually tried to interview someone from Hamline on this issue.  I will try again.