Gun Ban Lobby Hopes Grammatical Error Dooms Georgia Campus Carry Bill

I'll admit I don't know how the Georgia legislature works but reading this article from the Atlanta Journal Constitution (via TheTrace.org), if it were Virginia, it would be an easy fix for a Governor who wants to sign this bill:

The problem, Turkheimer writes, is the missing comma after the word offices. He continues:

Without that comma, it’s just two clauses both modifying “offices or rooms.” This reading becomes even more persuasive when you consider that both of these area exceptions, if they were meant to be separate, could, and perhaps should, have been put into different clauses. That’s how “Move on When Ready” and career academies were handled in the same bill. So unless faculty offices are also rooms where “disciplinary hearings are conducted”, they would NOT be exempted. Let’s just ignore whether these rooms are off-limits only when they are being used for disciplinary hearings or whether they are off-limits from carrying at all times because sometimes they host disciplinary meetings (makes less sense, but that’s what the bill says).

In Virginia, the governor would simply send down an amendment to add the comma.  I guess we will see if Governor Deal uses the missing comma as an excuse to veto the bill, ahead of the NRA Annual Meeting that will take place in Atlanta, or, if he is allowed to send the bill back with a simple amendment, takes the opportunity to add Georgia as the latest state to approve campus carry.

Liberty University to Build On-campus Shooting Range

Liberty University has been on the forefront of the campus carry moving, encouraging their students to take concealed carry classes and to get a concealed handgun permit.  On Friday, it was reported that the university would be constructing an on-campus shooting range for students, faculty, and the general public to use.

A proposal filed earlier this week for a special use permit from the Campbell County Planning Commission states that Liberty wants to construct a “nationally recognized, full-scale shooting, training and competition center” on its Lynchburg, Va., campus. The outdoor space will include a pistol range, a rifle range, an instructional area, and a 3-gun competition range, with future plans for an indoor firing range.

The NRA has offered to lend their expertise to assist with the project.  The article noted that the new range were motivated in part by a growing number of students signing up for Liberty’s handgun safety class. With almost 900 students having gone through the school's class in the first two years, it was determined that the current facility was not suited for that number of students.

Liberty University Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr., appeared on NRANews Cam and Company to provide more detail on the planned range.

IACP Resolution on Prohibition of Campus Carry

No real surprise here.  The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) has often come out in favor of gun control.  Their membership is made up of  individuals who work Mayors or other municipal governing body officials who are anti-rights, so to keep their job, they tend to be too.

At the 2016 IACP Annual Conference, IACP approved the following resolution:

Prohibition of Concealed Carry Weapons (CCW) on College and University Campuses
Submitted by: University and College Police Section
UCPS.05.t16

WHEREAS, our nation’s colleges and universities are bastions of freedom of expression and learning, and must continue to address the most controversial subjects of the day. These environments continue to be safe havens for discovery and growth for our nation’s young adults. Introducing concealed weapons on our nation’s campuses jeopardizes those cherished values; and

WHEREAS, based on Mother Jones' Investigation: US Mass Shootings, 1982-2016, despite high-profile shootings, homicides at our nation’s colleges and universities remain rare events. There is no credible evidence to suggest that armed students, faculty, staff and community users would make our nation’s campuses safer; and

WHEREAS, in 2013, the homicide rate at our nation’s colleges and universities was 0.1 per 100,000 of enrollment, and by comparison. the criminal homicide rate in the United States was 4.4 per 100,000. Further, the Department of Justice found that 93% of violent crimes that victimize college students occur off campus. In 2013, 21 million students were enrolled on our nation’s colleges and universities, and only 24 were fatally victimized on campus; and

WHEREAS, in a 2013 poll at 15 colleges and universities, 94 percent of faculty members opposed concealed carry on campus and in a similar 2013 poll, 79 percent of students said that they would not feel safe if concealed guns were allowed on their campus, and

WHEREAS, research shows that approximately half of our nation’s college students binge drink or abuse illegal or prescription drugs, and nearly 25 percent of college students suffer from substance abuse and dependence, therefore, leading to an increased danger by adding the availability of a firearm to persons with a reduced ability to use appropriate judgement, and

WHEREAS, suicide is the second leading cause of death for college age young adults. On average, 1,100 college students commit suicide each year while another 24,000 attempt suicide. The firearm suicide rate of 18 to 21 year-olds is nine times higher than the firearm suicide rate of people 17 and under. Suicide attempts with guns are fatal 90 percent of the time; and

WHEREAS, allowing concealed carry firearms upon our nation’s campuses would have no positive effect on campus safety and would, inversely, decrease the actual and perceived safety of our students, staff, faculty and community users; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the International Association of Chiefs of Police promotes the prohibition of concealed carry weapons upon this nation’s college and university campuses.

States like Utah and Colorado have had campus carry for a number of years without any incidents involving legally carrying students or staff.  The same can be said with the new states added to the list like Texas, which has had campus carry at four year institutions since August, and Tennessee, which allows faculty and staff to carry.  Idaho has had campus carry for the last two years.  There have been no incidents.  So, it would seem that all those stories of drunk college students that would pull their firearm to settle an argument are about as prophetic as the "blood in the streets" predictions that were common when concealed carry began being the norm in state after state.

Toledo Blade: Calls Renewed for Campus Carry

Officer.com shared this article from the Toledo Blade noting that calls for campus carry have been renewed in Ohio after Monday's car/knife attack at Ohio State:

Monday's attack at Ohio State University has renewed calls to allow students to carry concealed handguns on public college campuses.

Current law prohibits such weapons on campuses, but the state Senate is expected this week to consider a bill in lame-duck session to allow schools to decide for themselves whether to allow those with concealed-carry permits to carry on campus.

Even on campuses where the bans would remain in place, a violation would be reduced to a minor misdemeanor, eliminating the risk of jail time if the offender proves within 10 days that he has a legal permit to carry.

"Fortunately, an OSU police officer was close by and able to shoot and kill the suspect to stop the attack," said Jim Irvine, president of the Buckeye Firearms Association. "But even so, those being attacked were unable to defend themselves effectively because Ohio law forbids carrying a concealed handgun on school campuses, even if school authorities may be willing to allow it."

The gun ban crowd promptly responded with a commonly heard refrain that adding armed civilians to the mix would make it hard to determine who the good guys were and that the scene would be chaos.  Never mind there is no evidence that has been the case in the past.

The Ohio State University campus newspaper notes there is a bill winding it's way through the state legislature that would allow an "opt-in" provision for campuses that want to allow campus carry:

House Bill 48, as it is referred to, passed in the Ohio House of Representatives a year ago, but is now working its way through Ohio’s Senate. The bill would allow concealed carry-permit holders to carry guns inside day care facilities and within certain areas of police stations and airports.

The legislation includes an “opt-in clause” for public universities, allowing institutions to independently decide whether students can carry or not. For universities that decide not to opt-in, House Bill 48 would reduce the charges of licensees carrying on campus from a felony to a misdemeanor.

The OSU President is not in favor of the idea.

Campus Carry will again be on the agenda in several states in 2017 and will likely pass in some.  Virginia has yet to seriously consider bills introduced on the subject and with Governor Terry McAuliffe in office, is not expected to give any attention to the bills this year either.

The New York Times Takes Up Campus Carry Debate

On Monday, The New York Times opened up it's editorial space to four guest commentators to "debate" the topic of campus carry.  It was less a debate than it was each writer stating the reasons for their position.  One was rape victim Amanda Collins who wrote why she would have liked to have had her firearm on campus and there was a professor at the University of Texas who wrote that allowing firearms on campus will make them less safe and restrict academic freedom.  There was a recent college graduate who wrote opposing campus carry, and there was George Mason University Law Professor Nelson Lund who wrote in support of campus carry noting that campus police cannot prevent violent crimes.

You may have heard one of Ms. Collins' appearances on NRANews.com where she has discussed what happened to her and how campus rules disarmed her and left her defenseless.  She freely admits that she does not know what would have happened that night had she had her firearm; all she wanted was the chance to defend herself.

The Texas professor, Javier Auyero, uses the same tired reasons for opposing campus carry, namely that not only will it make campuses less safe but will "stifle classroom debate."  He claims that if the legislature had cared about basing their decision on "logical evidence based arguments" they would have listened to people like William H. McRaven, the chancellor of the University of Texas and a former Navy SEAL, and Art Acevedo, chief of the Austin Police Department because they both know "when there are more guns around, there is more risk – it’s as simple as that."  What Professor Auyero does not put forth is the "evidence" found in the state of Colorado from Colorado State University, where campus carry has been legal for years with no issues related to academic freedom. Independence Institute Director of Research wrote in 2009:

Yet, if one drives just a few hours north on Interstate 25 to Colorado State University, where licensed carry is allowed in classrooms, there has been no evidence of any diminution of academic freedom. Nor are there reports of any impairment of academic freedom at the nine public colleges and universities in Utah, at the three Blue Ridge campuses in Virginia, or in Israel, Thailand, or Norway.

In fact, Kopel continues, the only evidence of restrictions on academic freedom related to campus carry are on advocates of campus carry.

We know where the New York Times stands when it comes to the right to bear arms but they at least offered a balanced forum for advocates on both sides of this issue to state their case.  I recommend reading all four Op/Eds.

Gospel and Guns Intersect at Liberty University

It hasn't been a popular decision among the mainstream educational community but among Liberty students, it seems to fit right in with the values of the students enrolled at the nation's largest Christian university.  CBC News reports that Liberty President Jerry Falwell Jr.'s comments urging his students to carry concealed is popular among the student body:

Around campus, with its pastoral lawns and Christmas carols piped out from loudspeakers along University Boulevard, talk of guns in dorms was met with wide support. About 200 people reportedly attended Liberty's largest-ever gun safety class last week, following Falwell's call for more people to exercise their Second Amendment rights.

Gioanni Galan, a 19-year-old nursing student, is considering signing up for free firearms training through the Liberty University Police Department. But her roommate disagrees with the dorm proposal, worrying that tempers could flare in some suites and end in gunfire.

It should be noted that only students age 21 and older can qualify for a concealed carry permit in Virginia, but it is a positive sign that students of all ages are interested in signing up for free firearms training.

McAuliffe Reacts Negatively to Liberty University President's Comments on Campus Carry

Jerry Falwell Jr., the President of Liberty University, made comments Friday that included advising Liberty students to arm themselves.  The comments brought a strong rebuke from Governor Terry McAuliffe. Focusing on Falwell's comments about "lets teach them a lesson if they show up here" which McAuliffe took as targeting Muslims, he responded:

"My administration is committed to making Virginia an open and welcoming Commonwealth, while also ensuring the safety of all of our citizens," McAuliffe said in a statement issued late Saturday. "Mr. Falwell's rash and repugnant comments detract from both of those crucial goals."

Falwell is focused on the safety of his students, to the point that he has arranged for free concealed handgun permit courses for students:

"I just want to take this opportunity to encourage all of you to get your permit. We offer a free course and lets teach them a lesson if they ever show up here," said Falwell.

Additionally, WDBJ 7 reported that Since Falwell's comments, a range in Lynchburg has seen a 20 percent increase in sign-ups for concealed-carry permit classes. 

Why We Need Campus Carry

With campus carry on the agenda in several states this legislative season (it died without even a hearing in Virginia), and the issue of campus sexual assault a hot topic in the media and with the current administration in Washington, thought it would be a good time to share this NRANews profile of campus rape victim Amanda Collins from 2011.

McDonnell Cautious on Campus Gun Ban, Reiterates Support for Repealing Gun Rationing

The Roanoke Times reports this morning that Governor Bob McDonnell said while he would have to see the legislation, at this time he would not be inclined to sign a bill banning colleges from prohibiting firearms on campus.

"There is some legitimate debate about whether an armed citizenry can stop problems, whether it's on a college campus or any other venue, but I'd have to see what the law looks like," McDonnell said.

"I would not be inclined to support that kind of legislation."

The Governor noted he doubts such legislation is likely to pass the General Assembly this year.  But he also had good news for gun owners by restating his support for repealing Virginia's handgun rationing law.

McDonnell said Tuesday that he remains supportive of another gun rights priority. The governor said he would sign a bill to repeal the state's one-gun-per-month limit on handgun purchases if lawmakers send it to him. McDonnell voted for the restriction as a legislator two decades ago because of concerns about "guns-for-drugs traffic" between Virginia and the Northeast.

But McDonnell said the state has since enacted additional measures to address those concerns "without having an arbitrary volume restriction on firearms."

The General Assembly convenes on January 11 and repealing handgun rationing is VSSA's top priority.

Blue Ridge Community College Forced to Ban Firearms on Campus

The Staunton News Leader reported Friday that thanks to action taken by the state governing board of Virginia's community college system, Blue Ridge Community College (BRCC) will no longer be able to allow students with concealed handgun permits (CHPs) to carry on campus.  BRCC is the only public college or university that allowed it's students to carry while on campus.

The move comes after the state board for the community college system approved a statewide guideline recommending a ban in September, college spokeswoman Bridget Baylor said Friday.

The board took action after Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli wrote in a July legal advisory opinion that university policies couldn’t apply to people with CHPs because they did not have the force of law.  He did however write that a regulation is enforceable because it undergoes a more formal process and must be approved by a university’s governing body through the Virginia Register Act.  All of the state's public colleges and universitities have set about replacing their policies with regulations.

Interestingly enough, the community college spokesman said this:

Baylor said the college has not had any problems with students or staff discharging guns or threatening people with weapons. Advocates for allowing students and teachers to carry weapons into school often cite Blue Ridge as an example to follow.

Maybe that was the real problem; there was a perfect example in Virginia of how permit holders are no threat to faculty and students.

Pro-Rights and Anti-Rights Advocates Turnout at ODU to Promote, Oppose, Campus Carry

WAVY TV10 has the report.

Pro and anti-gun rallies held at ODU: wavy.com

As usual, the students supporting campus carry are more logical in their arguments than the anti-rights folks.

College of William and Mary Joins Growing List Introducing Campus Gun Bans

The Virginia Gazette reported yesterday that the College of William and Mary is seeking to close what it believes is a "glaring hole in weapons regulations" on its campus. 

A weapons policy for the college had been cobbled together from the Code of Virginia and college handbooks, but amazingly no cohesive regulation existed.  A proposed rule went before the Board of Visitors this week.

William and Mary's proposed rule would prohit firearms in buildings or at campus events but does not expressly prohibit then on the grounds.  Everyone would be covered, including visitors.  It mirrors the regulation in place at George Mason University, which was recently upheld by the Virginia Supreme Court as not violating the Second Amendment.

The proposal will be published in the Virginia Register and returned to the Board of Visitors for a final vote in December.

JMU Students on Gun Control and Campus Carry

The James Madison University (JMU) newspaper recently ran an article on campus carry and the AG's opinion on the ability of state colleges and universities to ban firearms on campus.  They also talked to students about gun control and campus carry.

The students in the video have a more favorable view of carrying firearms and campus carry than do the individuals quoted in the print version of the story.

Thoughts on Campus Carry Conference

This year's conference was well attended. Both Amanda Carpenter, a victim of rape while on campus in Reno,NV, and Nicole Goeser, who saw her husband killed in a Tennessee bar which at the time was a gun free zone, both made compelling arguments for ending gun free zones. In summing up her remarks, Amanda asked the question to those who oppose campus carry, "How does taking away my right to self defense make you safer?"  Amanda had a carry permit at the time she was assaulted, but was banned by law from carrying on campus.  Nicole was very active in the drive to repeal the restaurant ban in Tennessee and works at the Tennessee legislature.

Amanda Carpenter tells her story to the conference

Nicole Goeser followed Amanda and was equally compelling

Following their comments, there was what was billed as a debate between Dr. John Lott and Virginia Tech shooting survivor and current Brady Campaign staffer Colin Goddard.  It was less of a debate and more of a statement of positions with an opportunity for rebuttal of the other's comments.  Lott had the facts and numbers at his disposal.  Goddard relied pretty much on what is his standard line when talking about increasing background checks to cover private sales.  He said during his comments that he was the victim of a background check that lacked important information.  Goddard was a last minute addition to the conference which had originally scheduled Paul Helmke.  Helmke has left the Brady Campaign.  Lott was gracious in his closing, thanking Goddard for stepping in at the last minute.

Dr. John Lott makes the case for ending gun free zones

Colin Goddard admits at the start that the audience is on the opposite side of him on the issue

It was an informational afternoon.  But the folks attending don't need to be convinced of the necessity for campus carry, those who oppose the effort need to be educated.  Maybe a few of them watched on C-Span.

Also participating in the conference were academics Nelson Lund at George Mason University, Bob Cottrol of George Washington University, and Jim Purtilo of the University of Maryland.  Video of the conference is still available on the C-Span web site.  Click here to view the archived video.

Cuccinelli: College Boards of Visitors Should Deal With Students

This AP story written by report Bob Lewis ran yesterday.  It is another in a number of articles that have run since the Virginia Tech incident last Thursday that deal with the issue of firearms on campus.  He does a good job of covering the issue and whether Virginia Tech should be dealt with differently due to having experienced the events of April 2007.  Lewis talked with the mother and gun control activist of one of the students that survived the shooting.

Now a fulltime gun-control advocate, Haas on Thursday asked the question that the day's false alarm at Virginia Tech begged so soon after Cuccinelli's pro-gun legal guidance on UVa's policy: Does the Republican attorney general with his eyes on an eventual gubernatorial run believe Virginia Tech has the right to ban guns from its campus?

"It's unacceptable, allowing the carry of guns on campus, concealed or otherwise. It puts the community into a panic," Haas said.

But he also spoke with Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli.  Cuccinelli defended his ruling that said a college or university cannot ban firearms by policy but can by regulation, which carries the force of law.

"The law can be adjusted by the General Assembly and the governor and, to a certain extent, by the universities themselves acting as agencies using their regulatory power," he said. "But the law doesn't change because it gets more or less sensitive in one place or another."

He also had this to say regarding who should be allowed to carry on college campuses:

"Faculty and staff should be able to fully exercise their concealed-carry rights. Period," Cuccinelli said. "But I am of a mind to let boards of visitors deal with their own student bodies."

For students, it's largely a moot point because concealed weapons permits are issued only to residents 21 and older, Cuccinelli said. "So nobody's going to roll out of high school and have a concealed-carry permit."

ODU Student Facebook Group Fights for Campus Carry

WVEC TV 13 is reporting that a group of Old Dominion University (ODU) students want to exercise their right to self-defense on campus after a crime wave near ODU. They have created a Facebook Group to plead their case.

Labor Day weekend, two people were robbed on or near the campus.

Some ODU students started a Facebook page, demanding the right to carry concealed handguns on school property.

One post reads, "We have the right to protect ourselves, especially in the high crime areas near ODU."

The report noted that most students do not meet the age requirement (21) to qualify for a CHP permit. While this might be true at most Virginia colleges and universities, ODU has a large commuter population and is one of those institutions where a student may leave for a semester to work then come back. Given the urban setting of the campus, these students are most vulnerable to being victims of crime and should be allowed to protect themselves.