RICHMOND, Va. (WRIC) — Currently, the Board of Visitors at each of Virginia’s colleges and universities determine whether the school will be gun free. Virginia Delegate Bob Marshall, however, is proposing to allow any college professor that wishes to be able carry a concealed weapon on college campuses.
“When we are facing greater threats from terrorists, why would you want to disarm more people?” Marshall asks.
Marshall says he decided to file the bill after being approached by a college professor and security guard, who he says complained about the lack of security at colleges. Similar legislation has passed in several states across the country including Idaho, where a professor accidentally shot himself in the foot while teaching class.
“One shot in the foot is a lot less damaging than 14 dead people,” Marshall said.
“Luckily he only shot himself in the leg, but you’re only bringing more potential danger onto campus,” counters Andy Goddard with Virginians for Responsible Gun Laws.
Goddard’s son was shot and injured during the Virginia Tech shootings. He says colleges are already one of the safest places to be, and believes adding guns would only make things worse.
“Why would we think that a college professor is going to do a better job at security than a full time paid security guard at a college?” questioned Goddard.
But Marshall says people have been putting their trust in campus security, including the day students were killed at Virginia Tech.
“Parents of 36 students trusted you, now where are their children with all the trust they placed in you?” Marshall said.
Meanwhile, Ball State University conducted a study and found 95% of college and university presidents want their campuses to remain gun free.
