Virginia Tech COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED

Yes. That's exactly what I said.

Notice that the mainstream media have convienently let this tidbit escape unnoticed?

http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/wb/xp-50658

Gun Bill Gets Shot Down by Panel

HB 1572, which would have allowed handguns on college campuses, died in subcommittee.

By Greg Esposito

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. (wonder if he is one of the dead? -s) 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. (We see how well that policy has worked. -s)

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For want of a gun....... children sacrificed on the altar of soccer moms "we can't fathom that prohibition laws only work on law abiding people". Hope they are happy. ONE teacher. ONE maintenance guy. ONE student carrying a permitted weapon could have saved nearly 50 from harm.

Tell your friends. Tell your family. One gun could have saved these people. Sadly, the anti-gunners will use this to disarm the rest of the populace.

-Shawn