Students in West Virginia may be at risk from bad actors or those with malicious intent. They may also want to consider removing them from the campus.
The Republican-controlled West Virginia House of Delegates passed Senate Bill 10, the “Campus Self-Defense Act,” on Tuesday, which would enable students, staff, and guests with concealed carry permits to pack heat on university and college campuses.
Gov. Jim Justice (R), told reporters Wednesday that he would sign the bill into law “in moments” once it reaches his desk.
State Sen. Rupert Phillips Jr. introduced the bill on Jan. 11, seeking to:
- enable the carriage of a “concealed pistol or revolver by a person who holds a current license to carry a concealed deadly weapon”
- authorize “regulation or restriction on the carrying of concealed pistols or revolvers in certain circumstances or areas of an institution of higher education” such as areas with a capacity of over 1,000 spectators or nearby on-campus daycare centers
- eliminate the “authority of the Higher Education Policy Commission, the Council for Community and Technical College Education, and the institutional boards of governors to restrict or regulate the carrying of concealed pistols or revolvers in certain circumstances or areas of an institution of higher education.”
- The owner of the firearm must have a concealed carry permit if 21 or older or a provisional concealed carry permit if between the ages of 18 and 20.
Although concealed carry is allowed, the bill prohibits open carry on campus.
Moore Capito, Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee (R), stated that “The bill, clarifies state institutions higher education may not limit a trained individual from possessing a handgun.”
According to the Inter-Mountain, it was passed with 84 votes to 13.
Roger Hanshaw, Republican House Speaker, and Del. Erikka Storch (R.Ohio) voted no against the bill. Del. Elliott Pritt was a standout among his Democratic peers and he supported the bill.
Del. Mike Honaker (R), one of those supporting the legislation, recalled seeing blood on the floor of Norris Hall following the 2007 Virginia Tech shooting, which claimed 32 lives, according to the Associated Press.
The former state trooper was required to inform parents about the death of their children.
Honaker said, “Please listen to me: Years ago I sat at the foot of my bed with Windex & paper towels and I washed almost 30 children’s blood off my shoes due to an active shooter on college campuses.” “I am afraid that if this legislation is not supported, and it does again, washing the blood of their shoes off will not be as effective as trying to wash my hands off the blood.”
Honaker pointed out that this is not a simple policy issue. It is a constitutional issue, which makes it even more important. This cannot be ignored.”
Democratic Delaware. John Williams was skeptical about the bill’s merits, saying, “A false assumption I think we are making is that every one of these people that will be carrying a firearm on campus is going be Clint Eastwood ready to fight.”
Williams seems to have ignored the fact that not all armed students may be “ready for battle,” but it is enough to stop a murderer in his tracks.
An armed citizen stopped what could have been a massacre at El Paso’s mall last week, as we previously reported. Emanuel Duran (32), a lawfully-armed gunman, shot an individual who had allegedly murdered one man and injured three others at Cielo Vista Mall.
WTRF-TV reported Governor. Jim Justice (R), is available to sign the Campus Self-Defense Act.
“God forbid it could very well be that somebody is on campus with a firearm and that something terrible happens,” Justice said that it may save a lot of lives.
The governor reiterated his support for the Second Amendment and the right to firearms by law-abiding “good people”.
