State group advocates for concealed weapons on VCU campus
The VCDL held a rally at VCU last Thursday to encourage donors of the university to withhold donations until the university revises its campus weapons policy.
Omar Samaha (far right) lost his sister, Reema in the Virginia Tech shooting. Omar now works with Students for Gun Free Schools to advocate for weapons-free campuses. Photo by Glenn Jodun.
Mechelle Hankerson
News Editor
Reema Samaha was finishing her freshman year at Virginia Tech in 2007. Reema was studying urban planning, but was unable to continue.
On April 16, 2007 Reema became one of the victims of Seung-Hui Cho in the Virginia Tech shooting.
Four years later, her brother, Omar Samaha, came to VCU’s campus with a group of Reema’s friends to advocate against allowing guns on campus as part of the Students for Gun Free Schools group during a rally held by the Virginia Citizens Defense League.
“I’ve (always) been an advocate for keeping our schools gun-free and having schools step up security and come up with different preventative measures to prevent future tragedies like Virginia Tech,” Samaha said.
The VCDL held a rally at VCU last Thursday to encourage donors of the university to withhold donations until the university revises its campus weapons policy.
Philip Van Cleave, president of the VCDL, said concealed-weapon restrictions on universities is futile in protecting students and visitors.
“Our view is very simple: The good people are the only ones that follow the law and by putting up signs … all you’re doing is telling the good people … ‘You cant protect yourself,’” he said.
The VCU student group, Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, helped organize the rally.
According to the group’s president, student John Allen, the majority of the group is made up of older, commuter students (to receive a concealed-weapon permit, applicants must be 21) as well as student veterans.
“We don’t advocate that the laws … that prevent illegal guns from getting on campus (be suspended),” Allen said. “No criminal should be allowed to have a gun on campus, but the fact is that they do. … As it is right now, only the (criminals) have guns on campus. We just want the good guys to have a chance (too).”
At VCU, taking weapons into a university building is explicitly prohibited. Carrying firearms, other weapons or explosives on university property is also not allowed.
“Right now, all the universities make their own rules and regulations, and they’ve chosen to keep guns out of classrooms and out of dormitories,” Samaha said. “We stand by that, and we think that that is a good measure to take.”
Samaha said one of the biggest concerns is the process to gain a concealed weapon permit.
In Virginia, residents who wish to receive their concealed-weapon permit can complete a state-approved course, some of which can be conducted online by a member of the National Rifle Association.
“We think that it’s a very low bar,” Samaha said. “If you even want to have this discussion, the bar has to be much higher, but at the same time, we think having guns in the classroom is a reactive measure. It’s not preventative enough.”
The VCDL has been rallying at other schools in the state, including George Mason University, Old Dominion University and Virginia Tech.
The group’s rallying efforts were partially motivated by Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli’s statements earlier this year where he claimed universities have no duty to protect students. He also said university regulations have the force of law, but university policies lack the authority to restrict carrying concealed weapons.
Van Cleave said the VCDL will be taking their effort to the upcoming General Assembly session, where they will be presenting two bills, one which will aim to take away the power of universities to restrict weapon permit-holders.
If I own a firearm and I wish to carry it onto campus they should have no right to say anything to me , just the thought that universities think they can get away with infringment on the 2nd ammendment is absurd. I have long been an advocate for constitutional carry myself and I see the benefits that come from students being allowed to arm themselves. Wake up people , if thugs and criminals want to get there hands onto a gun or deadly weapon eventually they will one way or another , you must ask yourself whats at stake here when one of these criminals making their way onto campus and confronts you. Your life is thats what and Id much rather go into a confrontation armed and ready than hopeless and sorry.
My name is Bob Sadtler. I am an executive member at VCDL, and except for President Philip Van Cleave, I am the only person to attend ALL the university demonstrations. In EVERY case: ODU, GMU, VT, VCU, Radford, and JMU, VCDL aquired on-campus sponsors, paid fees, stuck to our assigned area, and adhered strictly to all campus policies. With the exception of ODU,
ALL ANTI-GUN GROUPS DID NONE OF THESE THINGS!
I wish to extend my gratitude and admiration to the staff at VCU
WHICH WAS THE ONLY, O-N-L-Y INSTITUTION TO HOLD THEM TO THE SAME STANDARD!
EVERY other institution let them run amok and decide which rules to follow, while VCU informed them that if they did not behave, they would be removed.
BRAVO TO VCU FOR TREATING BOTH SIDES EQUALLY!
I am a graduate student at VCU. I often am on campus very late at night into the the early mornings. When I leave to go to my car there is absolutely no one around. As an older student (in my 40’s) with military background and a concealed weapons permit, I believe I should be able to carry to protect myself. Though I understand that people think that carrying weapons is ‘reactive” I argue the opposite, if people were made aware that students can carry weapons it would deter many criminals from making an attempt in the first place.