I'm not trying to split hairs here, but does the gun-free school zone apply to off-duty police officers who are taking criminal justice courses or something? They wouldn't even have to be campus cops. And another thing; the UD campus police are unarmed to begin with, do we know if the same is true at Va. Tech?
The argument that if the students/teachers had the legal right to have guns at the time of the event it could have been stopped is flawed. First off, how many of those students would have had guns? People just don't carry guns. I think campus police should be armed, so that is a valid argument though.
I think the Tennessee legislation is the right direction, in allowing people who would carry guns everywhere else carry them in formerly "Gun Free Zones."
Ryan Mc, I think you'll find a lot more people who carry guns outside of the Northeast. 
"First off, how many of those students would have had guns? People just don't carry guns."
Actually Virginia (unlike Delaware) has strong legal protections for open carry and a shall issue concealed carry permit system. About 6% of Virginia residents have those permits. People do just carry guns around for their own personal protection all the time.
Yea, its a regional thing. While it may seem odd or even scary to see a person carrying a weapon in this area, out south and west, it is much more common. Not to mention, the permits are often for "concealed carry" and the permit holders are often required to "hide" their weapons beneath clothing or in a bag/purse. Thus, its rare to "see" someone carrying a gun. In DE, you can get a CCDW permit. See 11 Del C. 1441. You need 5 references, so to speak, and to have gone through a federally-approved training program
G Rex, depends on the jurisdiciton. Some locations have strict-liability, non guns whatsoever rules, while other areas carve out narrow exceptions. Not sure what V Tech or UD has
"First off, how many of those students would have had guns?"
You'd only need one.
After seeing some of the killer's "martyrdom" video clips last night, I'd have to say he was expecting to be gunned down, but when that didn't pan out, he had to kill himself rather than be captured alive. Was he running out of ammunition?
"Not sure what V Tech or UD has"
Open carry at VTech is legal but is also grounds for expulsion under school rules. Hence none of the hokies were armed.
In Delaware anything within 1000 feet of university buildings, grounds, sports fields, and stadiums are considered "Safe School and Recreation Zones." This increases the penalties for committing crimes, but arguably doesn't effect lawful weapons possessors. When I was at UD, possession of weapons on school grounds was against policy and was grounds for disciplinary action unless you keep it locked up at the Public Safety office.
That's funny, I was in a target pistol club at Ohio State, and we practiced at a basement range under one of the ROTC buildings. I must have walked across campus with my Ruger .22 in my bookbag hundreds of times without even thinking about it. Of course, I lived off-campus, so I guess any prohibition there may have been against keeping a gun in a dorm room never came up.
Jeff,
While you make valid points, I can tell you are not a college student. "People do just carry guns around for their own personal protection all the time." I would love to meet the student who on a Monday morning, can roll out of bed at the usual 9:10 to make it to his/her 9:30 class and remember to grab his trusty gun. While G-Rex says that "You'd only need one", I argue that people are just not going to bring guns to class, before today what was the point? Should of, could of, would have...didn't. It's very easy to play "Monday Morning Quarterback" now.
Ryan Mc,
If I can remember my watch, cell phone, and iPod (the latter two even having a charge!), I can remember my gun.
Ryan Mc,
Given the robberies, rapes, etc. on or near the UD campus this year, as a woman, I would much appreciate the right to carry a small handgun around campus. As it is, I have to make do with my knife. And yes, I carry it to my 9:30 class.
Well then agree to disagree. I think there would be just as many accidents with the guns if not more than times successfully used in self defense. Even if I conceded this point which I will for the sake of argument. You would have to carry your gun on you 24/7 to truly guard against surprise as in the VT case. To the gym, to class, to the shower stall, etc. I just don't see it happening and thus not helping.
Keep in mind, I'm not arguing for or against gun usage. I just find your reasoning for having a gun is flawed. If you are planing on chaining that gun to your hip 24/7 then I will stand corrected.
On guns and deaths:
"In any case, note that the 'children' killed by firearms include older teenagers, among them 18-year-olds and 19-year-olds, a.k.a. 'adults.' Judging from the breakdown in 1998 (I can't find comparable data for 1997), more than 80 percent of gun deaths for the under-20 group involve teenagers 15 or older. About 58 percent of the gun deaths that year were homicides, and these included drug dealers shot by other drug dealers, violent criminals shot by police, and other noninnocent nonchildren. About 33 percent of the gun deaths were suicides; 7 percent were accidents.""
http://reason.com/blog/show/119756.html
A survey last year by the American College Health Association found that 8.5 percent of students had seriously considered suicide, and 15 percent were diagnosed for depression, up from 10 percent in 2000.
The Anxiety Disorders Association of America found that 13 percent of students at major universities and 25 percent at liberal arts colleges are using campus mental health services.
Keep in mind, I'm not arguing for or against gun usage. I just find your reasoning for having a gun is flawed. If you are planing on chaining that gun to your hip 24/7 then I will stand corrected.
Ryan Mc. | Homepage | 04.19.07 - 10:51 pm | #
so you don't use condoms because they are only 80% effective.
the goal is to be SAFER not perfectly safe.
Open carry at VTech is legal but is also grounds for expulsion under school rules. Hence none of the hokies were armed.
Hmm. That poses an interesting legal question. As a state school, isn't VA Tech bound by state laws?
If it's anything like Delaware, no.
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