Look, the people who hand out Bibles are usually from a specific sect of Christianity.

I get it, they're just as shitty as most Christians, in most ways, but...

The reason they give the Bibles away is because they figure that knowledge is power and they don't want to force people to have to spend money they don't have to be able to read the Bible.

I hate to say it, but I agree with their attitudes regarding freedom and access to information. They may not be distributing information I care for, but I can't fault the attitude. Information and access to it shouldn't be limited, because knowledge is power.

Right attitude, wrong values otherwise.

I have pretty bad social and general anxiety, it is extremely difficult for me to be pushy with anyone, at least in person. At the time I think I mostly avoided them or lied and told them I already had a copy at home, which seemed to placate them.

In any case, I think all they really achieved was wasting a lot of paper and ink, because the trash cans around campus and especially the outdoor ones near those intersections were absolutely filled with bibles by the end of the day whenever those people came around. Once or twice I saw some student accept one and then two steps later toss it in a bin that was right next to the guys handing them out.

Why refuse free toilet paper?

Count yourself lucky. If you want one, any church would be happy to provide.