Taking guns to class...

[JackoliciousLegs]

Thoughts?
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[HAULN-SS]

good for him

[G.Irish]

Well, if someone is intent on shooting someone they are going to get a firearm and go shoot someone. Having a zone where you're not supposed to have a gun only ensures that the assailant will encounter unarmed victims.

It reminds me of a Chris Rock quote:

Don't go to parties with metal detectors. Sure it feels safe inside. But what about all those n***** waiting outside with guns? They know you ain't got one.

You can't just make it illegal to have a gun in school, when guns are legal elsewhere. And there's no way you're going to make guns illegal for everyone. So if someone wants to carry a concealed firearm, have at it. We've all seen the dangers of the alternative, even in cases where the police responded very quickly.

However, I can agree with requiring background checks and a waiting period for firearms.

[mrbaggio]

I support the right to bear arms

[CaptainHenreh]

If an individual passes the requirements for a concealed carry permit in their state of residence (or any state with reciprocity) then I see no reason why a school should be some special place where guns "aren't allowed". After all, law-abiding citizens don't shoot people for the fuck of it, and crazy people don't obey laws anyway.

[Maengelito]

After all, law-abiding citizens don't shoot people for the fuck of it, and crazy people don't obey laws anyway.

couldnt have said it better myself

[DavidM]

For the most part I agree with what has already been said, I support people constitutional rights etc. etc. However I do have some reservations, especially with college students. Obviously most of the time the vast majority of students are calm and logical however I'm sure we've all been at parties where people have had too much to drink and get in fights. What if one of those guys was carrying a gun?

For the most part it would be okay but I think these types of incidents would increase significantly if college students carrying guns became the norm.

Again I'm not saying the current situation is better, and yes having concealed weapons would likely decrease the severity, and even the frequency, of incidents like NIU and VT, however I personally think that accidental gun related deaths would increase at a far higher rate than mass shootings would decrease.

[Kaan]

For the most part I agree with what has already been said, I support people constitutional rights etc. etc. However I do have some reservations, especially with college students. Obviously most of the time the vast majority of students are calm and logical however I'm sure we've all been at parties where people have had too much to drink and get in fights. What if one of those guys was carrying a gun?

For the most part it would be okay but I think these types of incidents would increase significantly if college students carrying guns became the norm.

Again I'm not saying the current situation is better, and yes having concealed weapons would likely decrease the severity, and even the frequency, of incidents like NIU and VT, however I personally think that accidental gun related deaths would increase at a far higher rate than mass shootings would decrease.

what says current students... lets say at JMU... throw parties or go to parties now with guns? When i was there i knew lots of people that lived in the off campus apartments with fire arms... and i knew 15-20 people all with their conceal permits that carried around town.

[CaptainHenreh]

Also, anyone who's going to go through the licensing process to get a concealed carry permit is not likely to be cavalier with their firearm.

And besides, most parties like you refer to occur off campus, where you can A: Carry concealed and, more importantly
B: Freely open carry.

So allowing concealed carry on campus wouldn't change "wild college parties" one iota, because the guns are "already there" if they're going to be carried.

[Ginger]

B: Freely open carry.

Those that know me know I support keeping firearms legal.

But my question is related to Rex's statement: can't that be construed as brandishing, and therefore be illegal?

My Dad and I were talking about concealed carry permits and he mentioned that if he gets one he need to find a small sidearm with a good case, because accidentally displaying it can get you arrested under brandishing laws.

[CaptainHenreh]

But my question is related to Rex's statement: can't that be construed as brandishing, and therefore be illegal?

Not if it is in, and remains in, a holster, purse, pack, etc.

[HAULN-SS]

I dont think that can be construed as brandishing. As I understand Virginia law right now, you can carry anything you want around openly with no permit. You only need the permit to tuck it in to your jacket or whatever, right? If you had a 357 on your side and int he open, I think that's legal, right?

[CaptainHenreh]

Pointing, holding, or brandishing firearm, air or gas operated weapon or object similar in appearance; penalty.

A. It shall be unlawful for any person to point, hold or brandish any firearm or any air or gas operated weapon or any object similar in appearance, whether capable of being fired or not, in such manner as to reasonably induce fear in the mind of another or hold a firearm or any air or gas operated weapon in a public place in such a manner as to reasonably induce fear in the mind of another of being shot or injured. However, this section shall not apply to any person engaged in excusable or justifiable self-defense. Persons violating the provisions of this section shall be guilty of a Class 1 misdemeanor or, if the violation occurs upon any public, private or religious elementary, middle or high school, including buildings and grounds or upon public property within 1,000 feet of such school property, he shall be guilty of a Class 6 felony.

B. Any police officer in the performance of his duty, in making an arrest under the provisions of this section, shall not be civilly liable in damages for injuries or death resulting to the person being arrested if he had reason to believe that the person being arrested was pointing, holding, or brandishing such firearm or air or gas operated weapon, or object that was similar in appearance, with intent to induce fear in the mind of another.

C. For purposes of this section, the word "firearm" means any weapon that will or is designed to or may readily be converted to expel single or multiple projectiles by the action of an explosion of a combustible material. The word "ammunition," as used herein, shall mean a cartridge, pellet, ball, missile or projectile adapted for use in a firearm.

But yes, if your firearm is clearly visible but not held, you can carry it.

See:
Va Code 18.2-308

[Mike]

But yes, if your firearm is clearly visible but not held, you can carry it.

See:
Va Code 18.2-308

i really enjoyed walking through walmart with a rifle it was harrisonburg, though, i'm sure it didn't phase many.

[Maengelito]

But my question is related to Rex's statement: can't that be construed as brandishing, and therefore be illegal?

Not if it is in, and remains in, a holster, purse, pack, etc.

i think evan carries a gun in his purse

[JustinG]

what ever happened with the suit against JMU that guy was tryin to bring against them for not allwoing him to have his rifle or whatever on his gunrack while drivin through campus???

I am all for right to bear arms, possible involve a required weapons training course specific to small arms other than the hunter safety course required in VA to obtain your concealed permit.

regardless though i have no problem if the student beside me has a gun legally tucked away, cause he aint the one im worried about, as rex said is the crazy ones who dont obey laws

I personally think that accidental gun related deaths would increase at a far higher rate than mass shootings would decrease.

And IMO its very hard for a gun to "accidentally" fire, guns fire cause they were told to.

[Hunter]

When i was there i knew lots of people that lived in the off campus apartments with fire arms...

I did too. My old neighbors actually had quite a handgun collection.

I'm with pretty much all of you guys on this issue, why are we going to stop responsible gun owners from carrying their weapons when we can't really do anything about where the crazies carry theirs. It's not the people doing it legally that I'm worried about.

[DavidM]

And IMO its very hard for a gun to "accidentally" fire, guns fire cause they were told to.

I didn't mean accidental in the sense of not meant, i was refering more to a spur of the moment hot headed decision or something like that...maybe incidental would have been a better word.

Anyway, I was apparently very naive to the gun ownership situation and apparently it is not anywhere near as big a problem as I thought it would have been. Thanks for enlightening me to the situation and as I said before I fully support the right to responsible gun ownership.

[JustinG]

yea i took it as oh no the gun just fired while in my pocket Barney Fife kinda deal.