Virginia CCW on Campus-Virginia Tech Tragedy

This from the Virginia Citizens Defense League.

From January 31, 2006:

"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.

...

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."

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Well, Mr. Hincker - are you still happy? Militia, Police, and Public
Safety Committee - still think you did the right thing?

--

And As Reported by the Roanoke Times:

Gun bill gets shot down by panel
HB 1572, which would have allowed handguns on college campuses, died
in subcommittee.


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.