Virginia Tomorrow

The origin of this bill actually came from a social gathering and a call from a college police officer.

A prof at GMU suggested to me that profs who have a concealed carry permit, should be allowed to carry their weapons on campus. It had not occurred to me that they were under such a liability.

About three weeks later I received a call from a college professional guard who was asking me for additional funding for more weapons on campus for the police for what he said was the inevitable breakout of random violence. (My sons both attended that college.)

Given budget considerations, I put 2 and 2 together and thought that making it clear that VA University BOVs should not be able to override the prevailing policy of the Commonwealth for CC established by the General Assembly.

However, Republican Speaker Bill Howell and his leadership associates clearly did NOT want this to come to a vote, even pulling a bill from the House floor which I could have amended. (I never even received a notice for a secret subcommittee vote!)

Most profs are very devoted to their students, some to the point of risking their lives for their students. I thought of that VA Tech prof originally from Europe who died trying to protect his class.

A CC permit holder has to demonstrate proficiency with a gun and have a clean background before a permit is granted by a Virginia judge.

It is a fair assumption that at least half or more of the readers of this site have been in a Virginia movie theater, gas station, downtown city street or a shopping center where someone had a CC on them.

I think it would make the campus a little safer.

Delegate Bob Marshall