Getty Images/Luke Sharrett

North Carolinians are generally of two very different minds on the gun violence that plagues our society. While polls consistently show that most favor stronger laws to regulate firearms, a loud and determined minority opposes virtually any regulation.

Here, however, is at least one simple prevention step that all sides should be able to endorse: installing inside locks on the doors to college classrooms.

As NC State professor Walter Robinson explained in a recent NC Newsline op-ed, he and his faculty colleagues have repeatedly asked school leaders to install locks in all classrooms and lecture halls so that instructors and students can shelter in place in the event of a campus shooting.

Unfortunately, and amazingly, however, the requests have been rejected. The reason: cost.

And it’s hard to overstate just how absurd this is.

The bottom line: In a multi-billion dollar system, it’s ridiculous that university leaders didn’t long ago invest in such a simple and basic safety precaution. Further delay is inexcusable.

For NC Newsline, I’m Rob Schofield.