Posted on 4/16/2007, 9:52:04 PM by RKBA Democrat
A bill that would have given college students and employees the right to carry handguns on campus died with nary a shot being fired in the General Assembly.
House Bill 1572 didn't get through the House Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety. It died Monday in the subcommittee stage, the first of several hurdles bills must overcome before becoming laws.
The bill was proposed by Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah County, on behalf of the Virginia Citizens Defense League. Gilbert was unavailable Monday and spokesman Gary Frink would not comment on the bill's defeat other than to say the issue was dead for this General Assembly session.
Virginia Tech spokesman Larry Hincker was happy to hear the bill was defeated. "I'm sure the university community is appreciative of the General Assembly's actions because this will help parents, students, faculty and visitors feel safe on our campus."
Del. Dave Nutter, R-Christiansburg, would not comment Monday because he was not part of the subcommittee that discussed the bill.
Most universities in Virginia require students and employees, other than police, to check their guns with police or campus security upon entering campus. The legislation was designed to prohibit public universities from making "rules or regulations limiting or abridging the ability of a student who possesses a valid concealed handgun permit ... from lawfully carrying a concealed handgun."
The legislation allowed for exceptions for participants in athletic events, storage of guns in residence halls and military training programs.
Last spring a Virginia Tech student was disciplined for bringing a handgun to class, despite having a concealed handgun permit. Some gun owners questioned the university's authority, while the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police came out against the presence of guns on campus.
In June, Tech's governing board approved a violence prevention policy reiterating its ban on students or employees carrying guns and prohibiting visitors from bringing them into campus facilities
I wonder how many students would be alive today if there had been a couple of students in that classroom with concealed handguns...
Some thoughts on the Virginia Tech tragedy.
We are at war, both abroad and AT HOME, with an enemy who has sworn to kill as many of us as possible. This enemy DOES NOT recognize conventional rules of war such as the Geneva Convention. They do not wear recognizable uniforms. This enemy DOES NOT distinguish between military and civilian targets. At present civilian targets in the United States are NOT ARMED and have very little means by which to counter an attack. And because civilian targets are NOT armed, they are a softer, easier, less dangerous target than a heavily armed soldier. For that reason, this enemy PREFERS civilian targets.
As of this writing, we have yet to learn whether the deaths of 32 Americans at Virginia Tech was the work of a disgruntled, deranged student or former university employee.
It’s entirely possible that this killer was, in fact, a member of some radical muslin sect who took it upon himself to conduct what is now being called “instant jihad” against a very soft target, obeying the utterances of one of the more radical Muslim mullahs and randomly killing as many Americans as possible. At least one Muslim cleric has specifically called for the killing of our children. Given the PC environment in this country – which is at its zenith on college campuses – we may NEVER learn that fact from the authorities in charge of this investigation AND IT REALLY DOESN’T MATTER BECAUSE THE DEFENSELESS VICTIMS ARE JUST AS DEAD!
Israel has been at war with these folks for more than half a century. The Israeli’s know that it is NOT possible to have enough police out there to protect their civilian population. For that reason, it is common to see Israeli citizens – admittedly former military (as most Israelis are) going about their daily lives – with an Uzi slung under their arm! Most Israeli citizens carry smaller weapons not so easily seen. Because they ARE at war, they are an ARMED society. Yes, they ARE attacked. But –with the exception of suicide bombers — the attackers know that they will either be killed BEFORE the body count mounts or will certainly die before fleeing the scene.
The Israelis REFUSE to live as prisoners. Many of them had experienced that in Europe. They KNEW what they had to do and did it: THEY GRASPED THE SIMPLE FACT THAT WHEN IT CAME TO IMMEDIATE PERSONAL SECURITY, A CITIZEN IS ON HIS OWN AND ALLOW THEIR CITIZENS THE GOD-GIVEN RIGHT TO DEFEND THEMSELVES!
Any guesses when American “authorities” will begin to connect the dots? Can you say “never?” Without SERIOUS public pressure on these “authorities,” we will continue to die needlessly while waiting for the SWAT boys to show up.
What amazes me is that more of this sort of thing hasn’t happened in OTHER soft targets like public and private schools, shopping malls, theaters, sports bars (most states currently prohibit even CCW permit holders from carrying in bars), restaurants, etc.
The enemy is NOT stupid. This is just the beginning.
And if you think you and yours will NOT be in the cross-hairs, think again.
Maybe, if one could legally carry a gun to defend oneself, possibly the shooter would have been ‘killed’ prior to causing so much carnage.
on ESPN — Kornhierser — stated that something should be done about all the guns and ammo in this country.
Remember guns don’t kill, the user does.
Gunowners are not the problem.
A Mad person who is determined to cause carnage is the problem, no matter what the setting.
Why not put up a big sign that says “the honest people here don’t have guns and we don’t want to stop criminals from carrying guns in here”
A bill that would have given college students and employees the right to carry handguns on campus died with nary a shot being fired in the General Assembly.
Virginia Tech spokesman Larry Hincker was happy to hear the bill was defeated. "I'm sure the university community is appreciative of the General Assembly's actions because this will help parents, students, faculty and visitors feel safe on our campus."
“I wonder how many students would be alive today if there had been a couple of students in that classroom with concealed handguns...”
I guess we’ll never know. The university administration has acted to disarm students. Carrying a handgun on a university campus in Virginia is perfectly legal. However, if you’re a student or faculty member, it exposes you to administrative discipline. I.e. you’ll be fired if you’re a faculty member, or expelled if you’re a student. Hence the bill.
The gun rights community in Virginia did everything EVERYTHING! in it’s power to prevent a tragedy like this! The VIRGINIA TECH administration had taken disciplinary action against a LAWFULLY ARMED student that inspired the bill in the first place!
And this is the result of our failed efforts two years later: disarmed students and faculty members butchered.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Ooop's!
Reaction to the massacre from VCDL:
“As most of you know VCDL has been pushing hard to change Virginia law
to allow college and university students with concealed handgun
permits to be able to carry a gun on campus for self-defense.
Last year Delegate Todd Gilbert put in such a bill for us and so did
Delegate Mark Cole this year.
We could not get the bills out of subcommittee.
We warned the General Assembly that violent crime can, and does,
happen on campuses across the Commonwealth.
But the university and college lobbyists swore that crime was not an
issue and that the schools did not want students and visitors to be
able to defend themselves with a gun or other weapon. They argued
that the schools had little boxes with lights that had a button
someone could press if they needed the police.
The General Assembly turned a deaf ear to allowing college and
university students to be able to protect themselves and here we are
today :-(
While it is NOT illegal for a college or university student with a
CHP to carry in Virginia, they could get expelled (or fired if a
teacher). And that is a severe enough financial penalty that students
don’t want to take the chance. Who can blame them?
But, I’ll bet a few are reconsidering their position now. Expelled
by 1 or carried by 6?
VCDL will make it a high priority again next year to get a bill
introduced that will let students and faculty carry.
I don’t want to hear from universities and colleges any more about
crime not happening on campuses, or the police will save you if there
is a problem, or that we need more gun control on campuses.
ENOUGH OF ELITIST BALONEY FROM COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES!
If just ONE of those victims had been armed, this most probably would
have turned out very differently.”
Part of me feels there’s no need to rub this in. The guy already feels like a fool.
Last thing I'd do is send one of my kids to a university that lets mad-dog killers circulate through the campus slaughtering unarmed students without fear of the slightest response.
I am contacting my state representative immediately to ask that at least 50% of the state support that would have gone to Virginia Tech be transferred over to George Mason ~ no sense letting taxpayer dollars go to waste.
Feeling like a fool and feeling dead are too different things. This guy owes us all a very serious apology.
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus
Even here in Mississippi the laws of stupidity are the same. I taught at a Junior College last fall and they have on all of their handouts and informational pamphlets that weapons are not allowed on campus and no CCC permitted exceptions. I keep a weapon in my truck at all times because I have to use one infrequently but nevertheless, I keep a weapon. LE liberals at these Universities would love to jack up a prof for possession of a weapon. I felt very unsafe at the JUCO.
“Part of me feels there’s no need to rub this in. The guy already feels like a fool.”
You’ll pardon me if I don’t get out my hankie for him. There are thirty plus families at last count that will get my tears and prayers a whole lot sooner.
Was this bill killed before or after the shootings today?
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