Say Anything Blog

But the text of the legislation was badly gutted, turning the bill into one that would allow concealed carry on campus in general to a bill that merely allows guns (not necessarily concealed) in student apartments (not even dorms by my reading) and the parking areas of those apartments.

Here’s the pertinent part of the bill as it reads now.  The changes and status of the bill are supposed to be posted here, but whoever runs the state computer system is woefully slow at getting things updated.

3. This section does not apply to an individual licensed to carry a firearm under section 62.1-04-03 when that individual is on the real property comprising a state or private institution of higher education and that individual is on real property that is a dwelling unit or that unit’s related parking and shared space. In addition, this section does not apply to an individual with a valid general game license issued by this state or who has successfully completed hunter education in this state or any other state or province, when that individual is on the real property, comprising a state or private institution of higher education and that individual is on the real property that is a dwelling unit or that unit’s related parking and shared space. As used in this subsection, dwelling unit does not include a dormitory.

The passage of this still would still be a victory of sorts as campus leadership across the state has banned guns in student apartments.  In fact, it was the banning of guns in student apartments that prompted the movement behind this bill in the first place.

I imagine that opponents to this bill (namely, the State Board of Higher Education) think that by throwing gun rights supporters this bone they will appease them without really giving them a victory.  But word I’m hearing from supporters is that they’re not going to take this gutting of the bill laying down.

Nor should they, for the fight here isn’t over leveraging some new privilege to possess and carry firearms out of the powers that be.  The fight here is about re-establishing gun rights as actual rights per the second amendment.  Something that can’t be denied we citizens on a mere administrative whim.