Ross Pilotte, a junior in fisheries and wildlife science, is the president of the N.C. State chapter of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus. He carries his SIG Saur p226 9mm pistol whenever he isn't on campus and also loves to hunt and go to the shooting range. Pilotte said he doesn't mind taking more classes or going through more thorough background checks, he just wants his right to concealed carry to be honored on campus. Photo by Katherine Hoke
The head of a jackalope, a mythical creature, is mounted above a television screen in a student’s living room. It complements other hunting and typical college paraphernalia decorating the house.
The head is the product of the combined efforts of Ross Pilotte, who harvested deer antlers for the creature, and a friend who donated the head of a jackrabbit.
Pilotte, a junior in fisheries and wildlife sciences, is the president of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus. While he does enjoy hunting occasionally, his motivation to lead the club comes from a desire for protection.
“Pretty much what we’re doing is advocating for our right to self-defense on educational property,” Pilotte said.
Currently, state law prohibits the concealed carrying of weapons on any school or university campus.
“We carry our concealed firearms with proper licenses, of course, anywhere else we go,” Pilotte said. “You can carry it on the left side of Hillsborough [Street], but you cross over, there’s that imaginary line, and you can no longer protect yourself.
Pilotte was the victim of attempted robbery on campus last February. He said this motivated him to become more involved in the club.
“You need to rely on Campus Police, who when you need help in seconds, are minutes away,” Pilotte said.
The past year and a half, the club has grown from 12 active members to 68, with about 400 total members, according to Pilotte.
As club president, Pilotte works with Student Government as well as local government and police toward achieving club goals.
“The support from the general community has been excellent,” Pilotte said.
According to Pilotte, there has not been much progress in North Carolina in terms of carrying rights, but there has been in other states.
“If we need to take another class … we will, if we need to get another license, we will,” Pilotte said of the club’s willingness to cooperate to reach its goals.
The club is currently working with another grassroots organization to introduce a bill into the North Carolina House of Representatives this upcoming session, which would permit concealed carry on campus.
“Whether or not it passes is anybody’s guess,” Pilotte said.
“[In] the states that do allow it on campus, there’s not been a single incident,” Seth Whitley, a member of the club and sophomore in agricultural business management, said.
Whitley, who has gone hunting with his father since he was 4 years old, got his Concealed Carry Permit when he turned 21. He carries a Ruger SR9c pistol almost everywhere he legally can.
At his home in Albemarle, Whitley has set up a shooting range in his backyard with friends.
“[My gun] is something I should be able to have on campus since I can carry it anywhere else in the state,” Whitley said. “It doesn’t make sense to me that people think just because we’re on campus we’re going to go on shooting sprees.”
Student living quarters vary on gun rules, according to Whitley. For instance, the Gorman Street Village does not allow firearms, whereas University Apartments does allow them.
To advocate for the club’s goals, members have set up booths on campus and at gun shows, according to Whitley.
The club has also adopted a section of Tryon Road, between Lake Wheeler and Avent Ferry. Although only required to clean it twice a year, members clean it four to five times a year, Pilotte said.
“People need to understand that we’re licensed by the state,” Pilotte said. “We’ve gone through all the necessary mental health and criminal background checks. We’re not vigilantes, we’re not criminals. All we want to do is protect ourselves and our fellow student body.”