Emotions run high around the issue of gun control, and with good reason. Gun violence is indeed tragic. Overshadowed by the grim context of mass shootings, or more personal tragedies like suicides and gun-related accidents, the debate about guns is colored both by sensationalized media coverage and the psychological power of the gun as symbol of violence and destruction.

 But as real as these problems are, many of the solutions that seem “common sense” in this heightened context have unintended consequences that just aren’t worth the cost. Gun control measures like stop-and-frisk, for instance, have been used to racially profile young black men in urban centers like New York City. Other examples abound.

Rather than focusing solely on the gun as an object to regulate and control, we ought to be discussing the best way to ensure that individuals’ rights are protected. That’s the conversation Students For Liberty is seeking to bring to college campuses this fall with our “Not Just a Gun” activism grant program we are pleased to announce today.

We need your help to elevate the debate and help the world understand why the right to self defense is about more than an American obsession with the Wild West and the glorification of violence. Student leaders can apply for a $100 reimbursement for any activism related to gun rights, which could include gun safety training, an empty holster protest, a speaker event, debate, or anything related to the right to self defense.

While the gun issue is particularly salient in the United States right now, the right to defend oneself and the philosophical importance of placing limits on the state’s ability to restrict that right are vital to the cause of liberty everywhere. So apply today to receive $100 and make the case for an individual right to bear arms on your campus this fall.

Applications for this program are now closed.