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Grey Area of Guns on Campus
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Gray Area of Guns on Campus
Posted: 6:28 PM Mar 3, 2008
Last Updated: 9:55 PM Mar 3, 2008
Reporter: Kelly Creswell
Email Address: [email protected]
Delegate Todd Gilbert's (R - 15th District) bill regarding carrying concealed weapons on campus had its last push Monday.
The bill tries to clear up a gray area in Virginia law about where the state allows individuals with concealed weapons permits to carry their guns, but it leaves open a chance for universities to create their own policies on campus.
One college in the Valley has a unique stance on this issue. According to Gilbert's office, Blue Ridge Community College is the only school in Virginia that has a policy that allows students and faculty who have such permits to carry guns on campus.
With Monday being the last day for bills to reach the General Assembly, Gilbert made one last push for his bill to allow students and faculty to carry concealed weapons on any campus in the state.
"It is not illegal for them to carry on campus, because of what the General Assembly has already done, and we just want to clarify that universities do not have the authority that which is given to them and basically make laws about firearms when it's ultimately the general assembly that makes those decisions," says Gilbert.
However, most universities in the state, including JMU, have policies banning weapons on campus, claiming it creates a safer environment.
"When students faculty and staff agree to be a part of the JMU community, they're also agreeing to the policies that the university has set forth," says JMU Spokesperson Don Egle. "And they then need to abide by that. That's different than just a citizen coming onto the properties because those individuals haven't signed the agreement with the university to abide by the university policies."
Since it is a second amendment right, BRCC believes the legislature should make a decision about what the policy should be in Virginia.
"We prefer not to have guns in our classes and so we work with students and ask them to comply with that request, but we just don't feel comfortable imposing sanctions on students for activities that are otherwise legal in the state of Virginia," says Dr. John Downey, BRCC's Vice President of Academic Affairs.
Carrying a weapon is allowed but discouraged on BRCC's campus. Downey says there have only been a couple of incidents where the school has had to talk to students about having guns at the school. However, the college would like the General Assembly to decide one way or the other.
Emphasis added is my own. Those who know me would know why the following ... :banghead::banghead::banghead: