Another Reason for Concealed Carry on Campus

The Richmond Times Dispatch (RTD) reported today that a group of 15 "young men" commited a violent assault and robbery on the campus of Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) early this morning.   It should be noted that VCU doesn't really have a traditional campus as it is an urban university with it's buildings on city streets.

VCU and Richmond police described the assailants as a group of 15 black males between the ages of 17 and 22.

The first victim, who is not a VCU student, reported being punched without provocation by a member of the group while getting out of a vehicle at Shafer and West Grace streets.

Moments later, the group encountered the second victim, a VCU student, at Shafer and West Franklin streets. The student told police one member of the group made a comment about his boots before the victim was punched in the back of the head and knocked to the ground.

Students just returned to campus over the weekend for the start of the fall semester.  VCU Police Chief John Venuti told the RTD that the VCU Police will be doing several things to increase security, including hiring additional officers as well as a private security firm, and upgrading the video surveillance capabilities on the campus. But, students will still be easy targets as VCU sprawls through downtown Richmond and 92 people, the increased size of the police department, cannot possibly be expected to protect the over 18,000 students who attend classes.

Virginia's public colleges and universities ban students from carrying firearms on campus.