BREAKING NEWS...VA TECH SHOOTING!

by SWALKER 128 Replies latest social current

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  purplesofa

  This is a mental health care problem and no one is able to see the trees from the forest.

  i agree
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  badboy

  29 PEOPLE WERE ALSO HURT
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  Brother Apostate

  The US has allready outlawed murder so why are murders still hapening? Maybe because criminals by thier very definition do not abide by laws. You can make all the restrictive gun laws you want and criminals will ignore them.

  True. I believe the answer is to require at least one trained concealed gun carrier in each classroom (and out of the classroom), encourage all who qualify to get a permit and carry. The more qualified carriers, the better- statistics prove this.

  This is a mental health care problem and no one is able to see the trees from the forest.

  This may help, but what needs to be done in this respect that hasn't already been done? You can't force a sick person to get treatment unless they know they need it, you can lead a horse to water but you can't make 'em drink.

  BA
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  LeslieV

  In New York State we have armed police on all college campus. I think you will see more states going to this.

  Leslie
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  DanTheMan

  True. I believe the answer is to require at least one trained concealed gun carrier in each classroom (and out of the classroom), encourage all who qualify to get a permit and carry. The more qualified carriers, the better- statistics prove this.

  Sweet! Almost like martial law! Good call!
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  zagor

  OMG, what in the world did University do to anyone?!?

  I think this last shooting just did it for me and my plans to ever live in States. You guys need to change your F$^*#$ gun laws, I can't believe this anymore. How many times did this happen already??!!??

  My thoughts go to families who lost the loved ones in this
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  BrentR

  The United States has over 20,000 gun laws, is there one in particular that you would like us to modify?

  There are no easy answers, if there were this would have stopped a long time ago. We do have armed pilots on comercial airliners and there have been no hijackings since that program was implemented. Maybe the teachers should be allowed to go the same firearms classes the pilots went to. There is something about knowing that you are going to be fired back at that has some tactical qualities.
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  hillbilly

  Very sad what happened at Virginia Tech today. All it would have taken was one legally armed citizen to put an early end to the carnage. Checkout this quote from article: 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." Feel safe??? How about BE safe?? Sorry, just so PO'ed at what happened and the probable backlash at the legal gunowners. Tom =============================================== HB 1572, which would have allowed handguns on college campuses, died in subcommittee. By Greg Esposito 381-1675 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. http://www.roanoke.com/news/roanoke/wb/wb/xp-50658[/i] MORE INFO: Virginia Tech's Ban on Guns May Draw Legal Fire (Article From 2 Years Ago) Wednesday, April 13, 2005 | Kevin Miller BLACKSBURG - Virginia Tech's recent action against a student caught carrying a gun to class could draw unwanted attention from groups already angry about firearms restrictions on public college campuses. University officials confirmed that, earlier this semester, campus police approached a student found to be carrying a concealed handgun to class. The unnamed student was not charged with any crimes because he holds a state-issued permit allowing him to carry a concealed gun. But the student could face disciplinary action from the university for violating its policy prohibiting "unauthorized possession, storage or control" of firearms on campus. Tech spokesman Larry Hincker declined to release the student's name or specifics of the incident, citing rules protecting student confidentiality. But Hincker said Tech's ban on guns dates back several decades. Students who violate the school policy could be called before the university's internal judicial affairs system, which has wide discretion in handing down penalties ranging from a reprimand to expulsion. "I think it's fair to say that we believe guns don't belong in the classroom," Hincker said. "In an academic environment, we believe you should be free from fear." Most public colleges in Virginia ban or restrict guns on campus. But the root of that authority is murky, according to some observers. Virginia law already prohibits students or visitors from carrying guns onto the grounds of public and private K-12 schools. The state also prohibits concealed weapons in courthouses, places of worship during a service, jails and on any private property where the owner has posted a "no guns" notice. State employees are barred from possessing guns while at work unless needed for their job. But Virginia code is silent on guns and public colleges. And two bills seeking to give college governing boards the authority to regulate firearms on campus died in committee during this year's General Assembly session. David Briggman, a resident of Keezletown in Rockingham County, has made it his personal mission to challenge state colleges' authority to enact tougher gun restrictions than the state. Briggman, who is a former police officer, said he forced Blue Ridge Community College to allow him to carry a gun onto campus while a student. And he sued James Madison University over its ban on concealed weapons even among permit holders. While JMU's policy still stands, Briggman said he has been told by campus police officials that they will not arrest visitors who carry a gun legally. "It's extremely easy to challenge university policy by looking at ... whether they are given the statutory authority to regulate firearms on campus, and of course, they're not," Briggman said Tuesday. Hincker, meanwhile, said it is not unusual for colleges to have more restrictive policies than the state. As an example, Hincker said certain chemicals and explosives that are legal on the outside are prohibited in the classroom or in dormitories for safety reasons. "We think we have the right to adhere to and enforce that policy because, in the end, we think it's a common-sense policy for the protection of students, staff and faculty as well as guests and visitors," Hincker said. Virginia Tech also has the backing of the Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police. In a policy position paper dated April 1, association executive director Dana Schrad wrote that the presence of guns on college campuses "adds a dangerous element to an environment in which alcohol is a compounding factor." Students should not have to be concerned about guns on campus, Schrad wrote. "The excellent reputation of Virginia's colleges and universities depends in part on the public's belief that they are sending their college-age children to safe environments," the policy paper reads. At least one attorney who represents college students would like to see the concealed-carry permit issue clarified. John Robertson, the Student Legal Services attorney at Tech, said he's heard differing interpretations of the policy at Tech. Robertson, whose position is funded through the Student Government Association's budget, does not represent students in disputes with the university but offers free legal advice and services to students on civil and criminal matters. Robertson said he would like to see either a court or the state Attorney General's Office resolve the matter. As for a university's refusal to honor a concealed-carry permit, Robertson added: "I am dubious that one particular arm of the state can do so without a particular statute." Hincker acknowledged that the concealed guns issue had "never been tested" and that the university could be opening itself up to legal action. "But we stand by the policy unequivocally," Hincker said. Last edited by don Tomás on Mon Apr 16, 2007 10:30 pm; edited 3 times in total
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  it's a shame we are ashamed to defend ourself's in this country.

  ~Hill
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  Brother Apostate

  Almost like martial law!

  How is concealed carry like martial law? They're not even remotely related. There are only a few states that don't have a "shall-issue" approach to getting a concealed carry permit. Did you know that?

  The suggested approach of having at least one qualified handgun carrier in each classroom would greatly reduce the instances of these murderous rampages, and would also greatly reduce the number of victims.

  You guys need to change your F$^*#$ gun laws

  They are changing. As of 2006, two states (Wisconsin and Illinois) and the nation's capital have no provision for legal concealed-carry privileges. There are currently movements in each of these states to pass concealed-carry laws.

  The largest topic in concealed carry politics is who can legally carry concealed weapons. Three common policies are prohibition of concealed carry, discretionary licensing, and nondiscretionary licensing. Less common is unregulated, legal concealed carry such as in Vermont and Alaska. Furthermore, minimum age requirements of 18 or 21 years are typical.

  Even in localities where concealed carrying is permitted, there may be legal restrictions on where a person may carry a concealed weapon. Typical examples include the prohibition of concealed carry in public schools, establishments that serve alcohol, public accommodations (theaters, concert halls, courtrooms) or public events (polling places, state fairs).

  These restrictions vary widely, particularly in the United States. For example, in Texas, one may not carry in any establishment which generates 51% or more of its revenue from the sale of alcohol for on-premises consumption. In Florida, one may carry in a restaurant that serves alcohol, but not into the bar area. Virginia prohibits concealed-carry in businesses with a liquor license, but open-carry is permitted. Pennsylvania does not prohibit carry in any establishment, whether it be a family restaurant, bar, or club. In Ohio and North Carolina, a law-abiding permit holder may not carry in any establishment licensed to dispense alcohol for on-premises consumption.

  Further restrictions may be placed on what kind of guns may be carried and how many a person may carry at one time.

  Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Concealed_carry

  BA
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  zagor

  Further restrictions may be placed on what kind of guns may be carried and how many a person may carry at one time.

  It may come as a surprise to many of you there but in most other democratic countries of the world you need special license to even own a gun let alone carry it around among the public.