CampusCarry.com

Virginia --(Ammoland.com)- A routine traffic stop at Virginia Tech turned deadly.

A police officer conducting the stop as well as a second individual were shot and killed, apparently by the same assailant. At this time (4pm ET), the status of the assailant is unknown and Virginia Tech remains on lockdown. [It is now known that the Second victim was the initial shooter]

Students for Concealed Carry offer our condolences the victims, and deepest hopes that the suspect(s) responsible be brought to justice.

“Our heartfelt condolences go out to the family of the officer killed at Virginia Tech,” states Thomas Burge, Texas Director of Students for Concealed Carry.

“It is sad and unfortunate that this occurred and even worse that it is not the first time on this campus. The VA Tech campus is a “Gun-Free” zone, but these zones are proven to be guns free for law abiding citizens only. This is a terrible reminder that we must have the ability to protect ourselves on campuses as much as we do in and outside our homes…”

SCC also sadly recognizes this incident proves yet again that nothing has changed at Virginia Tech. The college still entertain delusional beliefs that signs and stickers will prevent illegal weapons on campus, even as they protest paying fines for their failing to notify students of the initial murders preceding the worst shooting spree in history three years ago.

According to Students for Concealed Carry at Texas A&M University, “This incident continues to prove that campuses are not crime free. The same crime that happens everywhere else in the United States can happen just as easily and just as suddenly on a college campus. Yet, college campuses remain one of the last areas that law abiding adults with a valid concealed carry permit cannot carry a firearm for self-defense. This leave our campus students and faculty tragically defense free against the same crime that anywhere else we might be able to defend ourselves. This latest event shows evil people still exist in the world and all the laws in the world will not stop them from committing violent crime. Guns are not the solution to every problem, but they are a solution to some problems – a solution completely ruled out by college campuses in Virginia and most campuses nationwide.”

With licensed campus carry now a successful policy at over two hundred campuses in six states without incident, it is time for Virginia Tech and colleges nationwide to end the ban on campus self-defense.

In contrast, a sign saying an area is a “gun free zone” is a dangerous and deadly fiction.

Florida Students for Concealed Carry Need Your Unwanted Holsters

Florida Carry

Florida - -(Ammoland.com)- The statewide chapters of the Students for Concealed Carry on Campus will be holding empty holster events very soon.

We need your unwanted OWB and field type holsters. Busted Fobus, worn out OWB, or that old military holster sitting in the drawer, we have a home for them that can help expand gun rights in the state of FL!

Please mail your holster donation to:

Cash is also welcome to support our efforts in support of Carry Issues in Florida!

Donate Now!

About:
Florida Carry is a non-profit, non-partisan, grassroots organization dedicated to advancing the fundamental civil right of all Floridians to keep and bear arms for self defense as guaranteed by the Second Amendment to the United States Constitution and Article I Section 8 of the Florida Constitution. Florida Carry, Inc. was organized by a group of Florida gun rights activists in order to better coordinate activities, effectively lobby the state legislature, and to provide a legal entity capable of filing suit to demand compliance with state and federal law. Florida Carry stands only to represent our members and the over 8 million gun owners of Florida. We are not beholden to any national organization’s agenda that may compromise that mission.

Florida Carry works tirelessly toward repealing and striking down ill-conceived gun control laws that have been proven to provide safe havens to criminals and be deadly to law abiding citizens.

Virginia Shooting Sports Association

Virginia - -(Ammoland.com)- On Monday, days after reports that three youths attending a camp at Virginia Tech reported seeing a man with a gun covered by a cloth shut down the campus, Students for Concealed Carry on Campus held their second National Conference at the National Press Club in Washington DC.

Part of the day included a debate between Dr. John Lott, author of More Guns Less Crime, and Virginia Tech shooting survivor Colin Goddard, who currently works for the Brady Campaign.

While recounting the events of that day in 2007, Mr. Goddard told the audience that hypothetical statements by people who were not there, implying that guns might have lowered the death toll were “offensive,” to him.

He told the audience that not all of the students in the building were “sitting ducks,” as he described how one individual in another classroom got on the floor and pushed against the door with his feet to keep Cho from entering the room.

Goddard said “we need to broaden our perspective, we need to look past that last second … when we could have intervened.”

He suggested that preventive measures, such as stricter licensing requirements, mental-health checks, and improved campus security and emergency planning, would be a more effective approach. You can watch video of the full conference on CSPAN’s web site.

Three of the students also stopped by to speak with NRA News. (See Video Above)

About:
The Virginia Shooting Sports Association (VSSA) was originally founded as the Virginia State Rifle and Revolver Association in 1938. VSSA is the official state association of the National Rifle Association. VSSA is also closely affiliated with the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP), Virginia Outdoor Sports Information Network (VOSIN), National Shooting Sports Foundation (NSSF), Virginia Gun Collectors Association, and the Virginia Wildlife Federation (VWF). Visit: www.myvssa.org

Second Amendment Foundation

BELLEVUE, WA --(Ammoland.com)- As a Second Amendment Foundation supporter, I would like to tell you about a great opportunity.

The Second Amendment Foundation and Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC) will be having their second National Self-Defense Conference on Monday, August 8th from Noon to 5 PM at the National Press Club in Washington D.C. funded by the Second Amendment Foundation (SAF).

This conference is a great opportunity for those who care about their 2nd Amendment Rights to come together and learn from each other.

Students for Concealed Carry on campus is a non-partisan, grassroots organization comprised of over 43,000 college students, faculty members, parents, and concerned citizens who support the right of concealed handgun license holders to carry concealed handguns on college campuses. Key conference speakers include: In addition to myself, John Lott, author of More Guns, Less Crime, Professors Joyce Lee Malcolm, Bob Cottrol and Nelson Lund, Attorney Alan Gura who won two Second Amendment Supreme Court cases and key legislators from Texas, Idaho and Wisconsin.

For students that want to attend the conference but are a little strapped for cash, SCCC and SAF can help. Any student traveling over 750 miles to D.C. is eligible for a travel scholarship up to $300. You will receive reimbursement if you bring your student I.D. and travel receipts to the conference. SCCC and SAF will also provide one night free student lodging in a hotel if you so desire. SCCC and SAF cannot guarantee that you will get your own room. Funds are limited and you may have to room with another student or member of SCCC if you come alone.

For more information visit: http://concealedcampus.org .

Once your transportation and lodging needs are settled, forward your information to reservations@concealedcampus.org to reserve your spot at the conference.

As a Second Amendment Foundation supporter, student or not, we hope you will consider this great opportunity for talking, learning, and networking with young activists and gun rights leaders from across the country. If you have any further questions, please feel free to contact me at informationrequest@saf.org .

Sincerely yours,

Alan M. Gottlieb
Founder, Second Amendment Foundation

Students for Concealed Carry

Any Campus, USA --(Ammoland.com)-As college students across the country prepare to convene in the nation’s capitol to discuss college gun bans on August 8th, two more states have expanded the right to carry concealed weapons on campus.

Wisconsin became the 49th state to decriminalize bearing arms for defense when Governor Scott Walker signed SB 93 into law on July 8.

The law, which goes into effect in November, removes the state prohibition on concealed carry, limiting possession of firearms on K-12 institutions but excluding college campuses.

“Carrying a concealed weapon for protection is no longer a criminal offense in Wisconsin,” said David Burnett, a spokesman with Students for Concealed Carry.

“It remains to be seen how much power the colleges will have to regulate self-defense on campus, but this is clearly a step in the right direction.”

The bill passed despite efforts of gun control advocates to maintain the ban on self-defense. “[G]un violence cannot be stopped with more guns,” argued Virginia Tech victim and gun control advocate Colin Goddard in a June 24th editorial. Ironically, the perpetrator of the Virginia Tech massacre had more than 200 rounds of ammunition left when he took his own life in response to the approach of officers, who were presumably carrying guns.

Meanwhile, Virginia’s Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli issued an opinion on July 1 stating that policies set in place by the University of Virginia “may not be used to prohibit persons with such a permit from carrying a concealed firearm into the buildings covered by the policy.”

The ruling invalidates the University of Virginia’s previous ban on lawfully-armed visitors to the campus, though the college can still penalize residents, students and faculty of the campus for protecting themselves with firearms.

“It certainly can be argued that [gun ban] policies are ineffectual because persons who wish to perpetrate violence will ignore them, and that the net effect of such policies is to leave defenseless the law-abiding citizens who follow these policies,” wrote Cuccinelli.

The opinion is forcing other colleges, including Virginia Tech, to revisit their rules.

“This is a tremendous step forward for college students and teachers in both Wisconsin and Virginia,” said Burnett.

“Almost half the states in the union took up the issue this year, and our group won’t stop until we vote down every law that forbids us from fighting back.”

About:
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC) is a national, non-partisan, grassroots organization comprising over 44,000 college students, professors, college employees, parents of college students, and concerned citizens who believe that holders of state-issued concealed handgun licenses should be allowed the same measure of personal protection on college campuses that current laws afford them virtually everywhere else. SCCC has members in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. SCCC is not affiliated with the NRA or any other organization. SCCC extends an open invitation to publicly debate representatives from any organization or institution opposed to ‘campus carry.’ Visit: www.concealedcampus.org

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus

Texas --(Ammoland.com)- Members of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus all across the state are beckoning for Governor Perry to include the right to concealed carry on campus to the list of items to be addressed in the current special session of the Texas Legislature.

The hope for campus carry refuses to end with the 2011 regular Texas Legislative session.

For the past two legislative sessions, the right to carry concealed has had the broad support in both houses of the legislature, only to pass out of the Senate and be killed on a technicality of the House. Campus carry would have been passed a long time ago if not for the obstructionist actions of the same legislators who blocked the finance bill, the sanctuary cities bill, and several other bills likely to be included in the special session.

The Texas Tribune refers to the session’s end as a “graveyard of dead legislation” and a vast number of people do not want to see the coffin door shut on campus carry.

This is not a matter that has been untested. The statistics of concealed carry on campus are incontestable. Seventy-one campuses outside of Texas currently allow campus carry and have done so for an average of more than three years. None of these colleges have seen a single resulting incident of gun violence or a single resulting gun accident since the college’s right to carry on campus has been permitted.

Many people love to argue that citizens with guns are dangerous, however statistics show that Texans are twenty times more likely to be struck by lightning that to be murdered or negligently killed by a Concealed Handgun License holder.

A CHL holder is allowed the right to self defense while shopping at the mall on Friday, catching a flick at the theatre on Saturday, and even sitting in the pews in church on Sunday. Nevertheless, that citizen is stripped of his or her personal rights come Monday morning when he or she steps foot into a college classroom.

“How many more people must suffer?” asks Madison Welch, Texas Legislative Director of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus. “How many more lives must be sacrificed? How many more families must be permanently ruined before the state realizes that unarmed citizens on a college campus are moving targets? Criminals will not stop for a ‘Gun-Free Zone’ poster.”

About:
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC) is a national, non-partisan, grassroots organization comprising over 44,000 college students, professors, college employees, parents of college students, and concerned citizens who believe that holders of state-issued concealed handgun licenses should be allowed the same measure of personal protection on college campuses that current laws afford them virtually everywhere else. SCCC has members in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. SCCC is not affiliated with the NRA or any other organization. SCCC extends an open invitation to publicly debate representatives from any organization or institution opposed to ‘campus carry.’ Visit: www.concealedcampus.org

Texas A&M University-Kingsville: Where Senator Lucio needs to perform his own due diligence before repeating as fact the arguments fed to him by college administrators seeking to carry out their own political agendas.

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus

Texas - -(Ammoland.com)- Just 24 hours after refuting Senator Rodney Ellis’s (D-Houston) claim that legalizing licensed concealed carry (of handguns) on Texas college campuses would cost public colleges millions in increased insurance premiums, Students for Concealed Carry on Campus is prepared to call out another Texas Senator for playing fast and loose with the facts.

Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. (D-Brownsville) has repeatedly argued that the entire campus of Texas A&M University-Kingsville should be exempted from any proposed campus carry legislation because, according to Senator Lucio, the university shares facilities with Santa Gertrudis Academy High School.

But while Senator Lucio’s argument conjures up images of high school and college students passing each other in common restrooms and sitting across from each other in a common cafeteria, no such common areas exist.

W. Scott Lewis, Texas legislative director for Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, commented, “I’m not sure if Senator Lucio honestly doesn’t understand the relationship between the university and the high school or if he’s simply trying to pass a ‘not in my backyard’ amendment, but it’s clear that his statements don’t reflect reality.”

Senator Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio), author of the “campus carry” legislation at issue, attempted to address Senator Lucio’s concerns by amending the bill to clarify that concealed carry would still be prohibited on the premises of any primary or secondary school located on a college campus. But Senator Lucio wasn’t satisfied, claiming, “The reason, Senator Wentworth, your amendment is not going to work in my district is because the high school campus in Kingsville is not confined to a single building. They share facilities with the university. It is impossible to enforce your amendment, so we need to exempt the university.”

Something about Senator Lucio’s argument didn’t sit right with campus carry advocate Michael Cargill, who noted, “The idea that parents of 14- and 15-year-old girls wouldn’t object to their daughters sharing lunchrooms and athletic facilities with 20-year-old men struck me as highly improbable.” Mr. Cargill decided to visit the campus and see for himself.

At Santa Gretrudis Academy High School, Mr. Cargill spoke with Superintendent Mary E. Springs, Athletic Coordinator Hector Gonzales, and a school resource officer from the Kingsville Police Department who asked not to be named.

Although Senator Lucio’s office told Mr. Cargill that the high school shares a cafeteria and athletic facility with the university, Mr. Cargill quickly learned that the high school students actually use the cafeteria and gymnasium at Santa Gertrudis’ nearby K-8 school.

He also learned that the high school, which has fewer than 200 students, is housed on one floor of a two-story building shared with the university. The floor used by the high school has its own secured entrance and is not accessible from the floor used by the college. According to the school resource officer, the entire building (both floors) is considered a high school for the purpose of enforcing federal gun free/drug free school zone laws.

There are only two instances when the high school utilizes TAMUK facilities: It hosts interscholastic sporting events at TAMUK’s “old gym,” and students sometimes visit the university library to conduct research for school projects.

Because state law would still prohibit carrying a concealed handgun at a high school sporting event, the high school’s use of the “old gym” would not create a conflict. And because all public libraries and most museums in the state of Texas allow licensed concealed carry on the premises, the university library would present no greater risk than the multitude of other places students might be required to visit when researching school projects.

In light of the fact that only one campus building is regularly utilized by the high school, there is no reason that concealed carry should be prohibited on the rest of the TAMUK campus. Despite Senator Lucio’s claims to the contrary, allowing concealed carry at TAMUK would not mandate allowing concealed carry in the high school itself, something he erroneously suggests would conflict with federal law.

While attempting to amend Senator Wentworth’s campus carry legislation, to exempt any college that houses a primary or secondary school, Senator Lucio argued, “This amendment is necessary to uphold the—quote—Gun-Free School Zones Act—unquote.” But in reality, the federal “Gun-Free School Zones Act” includes an exemption for holders of state-issued concealed handgun licenses. The State of Texas already utilizes that exemption by allowing CHL holders to carry concealed handguns in the parking lots, parking garages, and outside walkways of primary and secondary schools—all locations covered by the act.

Like Senators Ellis and Gallegos, Senator Lucio needs to perform his own due diligence before repeating as fact the arguments fed to him by college administrators seeking to carry out their own political agendas.

W. Scott Lewis summed up the underlying folly of Senator Lucio’s arguments: “Opponents of campus carry want to create fear and paranoia about the prospect of allowing trained, licensed adults to carry concealed handguns in close proximity to teenagers. Yet, few parents have any reservations about dropping off their kids at a movie theater, a shopping mall, or a church—all locations where licensed concealed carry is typically allowed.”

ABOUT STUDENTS FOR CONCEALED CARRY ON CAMPUS
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC) is a national, non-partisan, grassroots organization comprising over 44,000 college students, professors, college employees, parents of college students, and concerned citizens who believe that holders of state-issued concealed handgun licenses should be allowed the same measure of personal protection on college campuses that current laws afford them virtually everywhere else. SCCC has members in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. SCCC is not affiliated with the NRA or any other organization. SCCC extends an open invitation to publicly debate representatives from any organization or institution opposed to “campus carry.”

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus

Texas - -(Ammoland.com)- One opponent of Texas Senate Bill 354, which would legalize licensed concealed carry (of handguns) on Texas college campuses, has resorted to blatantly false statements to make his case.

Faced with a dearth of fact-based evidence opposing his position, Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) has conjured up a fiscal boogeyman, telling anybody who’ll listen that the passage of SB 354 would cost state colleges millions in additional insurance premiums. But like most fairy tales, this one is borne out of pure fantasy.

On April 7, Senator Ellis lashed out against SB 354 on the floor of the Texas Senate. Addressing the bill’s author—Senator Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio)—Senator Ellis proclaimed, “I’m told by the community colleges it’s going to raise their insurance costs for liability insurance, despite the fact that under your bill you say they have no liability. But you can’t stop the insurance rates from going up. I’m told that one of my community colleges—they think it’ll cost a million dollars.”

Apparently accepting Senator Ellis’s claim at face value, Senator Mario Gallegos, Jr. (D-Houston) immediately withdrew his support from the bill. A few weeks later, Gallegos told the Texas Tribune, “What’s embedded in this bill, and is not being told, is the unfunded mandate that this bill produces.”

Although Senator Ellis did not name the community college to which he referred, other sources clearly indicate that he was referring to Houston Community College. The HCC board of trustees recently passed a resolution claiming that SB 354 would create a “fiscal burden” for the institution, and Dan Arguijo, spokesman for Houston Community College, recently told the Texas Tribune that HCC’s annual insurance premiums would likely rise by as much as much as $780,000 to $900,000.

Senator Wentworth and others immediately questioned these claims, pointing out that SB 354 provides immunity to colleges, that the fiscal note attached to SB 354 makes no mention of rising insurance costs, and that none of the 71 college campuses outside of Texas that currently allow concealed carry on campus have reported a rise in insurance premiums. W. Scott Lewis, Texas legislative director for Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, asked, “On what basis are we expected to believe that college campuses will become the first and only locations in Texas to experience higher insurance rates as a result of honoring state-issued concealed handgun licenses?”

These lingering questions prompted Robert Greene —a concealed handgun instructor, former police officer, and licensed insurance agent— to do a little investigating of his own.

Mr. Greene noted, “In all my years of writing commercial insurance for businesses, schools, churches, and the like, I have never had an underwriting questionnaire ask or even allude to whether or not the insured allows CHL holders to carry on the premises. I inquired of my underwriters, and not one indicated that this had ever been an underwriting question.”

When Mr. Greene contacted Senator Ellis’s office, he was told that Austin Community College is among the institutions reporting that its insurance premiums would increase. But when Mr. Greene contacted ACC Environmental Health & Safety Coordinator Robert Rogers, the person in charge of purchasing liability insurance for the college, Mr. Rogers was adamant that he had neither spoken to anyone regarding the school’s insurance premiums nor indicated in any way that those premiums would increase if SB 354 were to pass.

Mr. Rogers even went so far as to point out that, per the Texas Tort Claims Act of 1969, colleges and universities would be immune from liability for the actions of a CHL holder because a concealed handgun license is issued by the state, not the college. He then drew a comparison to state driver’s licenses and the fact that, because colleges must let licensed drivers use the roads passing through campus, colleges are immune from liability for the actions of drivers on campus.

Mr. Greene got a similar response when he spoke to Phillip Dendy, director of risk management for the University of Texas. Mr. Dendy pointed out that that the University of Texas rarely purchases liability insurance because the university is a state entity and, for all intents and purposes, insured by the State of Texas. He concurred with Mr. Rogers’ assessment that the Texas Tort Claims Act would provide immunity to colleges and universities.

Mr. Greene then contacted United Educators Insurance Company, the insurance carrier for Houston Community College, and spoke with Marketing Manager Chris Robinson. Mr. Robinson agreed that, in light of the immunity offered by both the bill itself and the Texas Tort Claims Act, there should be no expectation that colleges will experience higher insurance premiums if SB 354 passes.

These conversations, coupled with his personal experience in the insurance business, led Mr. Greene to conclude that Senator Ellis’s claims are unfounded.

W. Scott Lewis concurred, stating, “At best, Senator Ellis has failed to do his due diligence before repeating the dubious claims of a few college officials. At worst, he has resorted to lies to try to justify an unjustifiable position.”

ABOUT STUDENTS FOR CONCEALED CARRY ON CAMPUS
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC) is a national, non-partisan, grassroots organization comprising over 44,000 college students, professors, college employees, parents of college students, and concerned citizens who believe that holders of state-issued concealed handgun licenses should be allowed the same measure of personal protection on college campuses that current laws afford them virtually everywhere else. SCCC has members in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. SCCC is not affiliated with the NRA or any other organization. SCCC extends an open invitation to publicly debate representatives from any organization or institution opposed to “campus carry.”

NRA News

Fairfax, VA --(Ammoland.com)- NRA-News is a valued partner that continues to cover breaking gun rights news with a new and improved short video format in the “NRA News Minute” videos.

Cam Edwards talks to Scott Lewis, Texas Legislative Director for Students for Concealed Carry on Campus on the progress of Texas Campus Concealed Carry bill in Texas state legislature.

To view the current firearms or gun rights news video, please click above:

Read More on these topics:

• Texas Leads Nation with Campus Firearms Carry Bill
• Campus Concealed Carry Bill No Laughing Matter
• Texas Concealed Carry On Campus Bill in Committee – Bill 354

About:
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen’s group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation’s leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military. Visit: www.nra.org

Arizona Citizens Defense League

Catalina, AZ --(Ammoland.com)- SB 1467, the AzCDL-requested Campus Carry bill was debated in the Senate Committee of the Whole (COW) on Thursday, March 11th. It passed out of the COW, with a “do pass” recommendation, after being amended.

The amended bill prevents the governing boards of colleges and universities from prohibiting the “lawful possession or carrying of a weapon on a public right-of-way.” That covers streets, sidewalks, etc. open to public use. Since in places like Phoenix and Tucson, it’s almost impossible to not pass through a campus during daily travels, the new language ensures that you won’t be breaking the law by turning down the wrong street.

It’s not everything we want, but it’s an improvement over the current law where only criminals can be armed on college and university campuses and law-abiding citizens can instantly become criminals by simply making a wrong turn in their travels. The amended SB 1467 is still a good step in the right direction. We’ll continue to support its passage.

Anti-Rights Dirty Tricks
The anti-rights crowd has gone all out in Arizona this year to prevent teachers, staff, and students from having a safe learning environment. East Coast based national groups have beefed up their staff in Arizona. At the Capitol, they have spared no expense on lobbying, including holding a closed meeting with “freshmen” legislators in the House (AzCDL tried to attend but we were stopped at the door). On college and university campuses, they have conducted a series of fear-based indoctrination sessions disguised as “forums” to discuss Campus Carry.

Sadly, they have also exploited the victims of Tucson shooting tragedy in order to intimidate nervous legislators. And, their sycophants in the media have been lapping it up and spewing out falsehoods. It’s amazing how much they’re willing to spend to suppress efforts to restore a safe environment for your children when they attend a college or university in Arizona.

We expect SB 1467 to be voted on during a Senate Third Read in the coming week. We will keep you informed of its progress and alert you if the famous “persuasion” by AzCDL members is needed on this or any other bill.

Stay tuned! When critical legislation moves, we will notify you via these Alerts.

A list of the firearms and self-defense related bills, along with links, that AzCDL is monitoring can be found at our website: www.azcdl.org/html/2011_bills.html .

These alerts are a project of the Arizona Citizens Defense League (AzCDL), an all volunteer, non-profit, non-partisan grassroots organization. Join today! www.azcdl.org/html/join_us_.html .

You can also follow AzCDL on Facebook: www.tinyurl.com/FacebookAzCDL , and during the legislative session, we send out updates via Twitter: www.twitter.com/AzCDL_Alerts .

AzCDL’s Political Action Committee (PAC) is also on Facebook: www.tinyurl.com/FacebookAzCDLPAC .

AzCDL – Protecting Your Freedom
www.azcdl.org/html/accomplishments.html .

About:
AzCDL believes that the emphasis of gun laws should be on criminal misuse and that law-abiding citizens should be able to own and carry firearms unaffected by unnecessary laws or regulations. AzCDL was founded by a group of local activists who recognized that a sustained, coordinated, statewide effort was critical to protecting and expanding the rights of law-abiding gun owners. As a like-minded coalition of activists, the AzCDL founders were instrumental in the successful passage of the first major improvement to Arizona’s CCW (concealed carry) laws since they were instituted in 1994. Visit: www.azcdl.org

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus

Any Campus, USA --(Ammoland.com)- Things have been pretty quiet in Virginia regarding CC on campus recently – however it seems there’s a bill in the state Senate today which would finally allow it!

Senator Vogel’s SB 1250, as described below, is coming up for a vote TODAY and would effectively remove any ban that state universities have on campus carry.

So please take 2 minutes to contact your state Senator and urge them to SUPPORT SB 1250! You can either use the prewritten message link below, or else you could write your own. To find out who your senator is, visit: www.conview.state.va.us/whosmy.nsf/main?openform .

We need to push for support for Senator Vogel’s SB 1250, which prevents state agencies, including colleges and universities, from making their own gun control rules without the permission of the General Assembly.

The bill comes up Today, Tuesday, at 10 AM, so we need to get cracking!

Just click below to send a prewritten message on the bill: www.tinyurl.com/4kp2ajo

Let’s Roll!

About:
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC) is a national, non-partisan, grassroots organization comprising over 44,000 college students, professors, college employees, parents of college students, and concerned citizens who believe that holders of state-issued concealed handgun licenses should be allowed the same measure of personal protection on college campuses that current laws afford them virtually everywhere else. SCCC has members in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. SCCC is not affiliated with the NRA or any other organization. SCCC extends an open invitation to publicly debate representatives from any organization or institution opposed to “campus carry.” Visit: www.concealedcampus.org

Law School & College Students Invited to National Firearms Law Seminar

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus

Any Campus, USA --(Ammoland.com)- The NRA Foundation has invited SCCC members to attend its 14^th Annual National Firearms Law Seminar this year (April 29, 2011) in Pittsburgh.  All current law school and college students will be admitted free of charge.

I was able to attend last year, and I can report that the annual firearms symposium is an outstanding experience.

Speakers this year include a representative from the FBI office of general counsel as well as the ATF’s chief counsel. In addition to the speakers, last year about 300 lawyers specializing in firearms law attended this event .

You would be hard pressed to find any other room so packed with legal talent when it comes to the issues relating to firearms and the law. This year proves to follow this model.

This event should also prove to be an excellent networking opportunity for those interested in entering the firearms legal field.

The seminar is taking place during the same weekend as the NRA annual meeting. The NRA meeting includes a trade show similar (but smaller in scale) to the SHOT show.

Registration details are at www.nrafoundation.org/lawseminar. When registering, make sure to note that you are a current college / law student (along with your school), and that you heard about this offer from the Students for Concealed Carry on Campus. Spaces are limited, so if you are interested, please make sure to register soon.

About:
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC) is a national, non-partisan, grassroots organization comprising over 44,000 college students, professors, college employees, parents of college students, and concerned citizens who believe that holders of state-issued concealed handgun licenses should be allowed the same measure of personal protection on college campuses that current laws afford them virtually everywhere else. SCCC has members in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. SCCC is not affiliated with the NRA or any other organization. SCCC extends an open invitation to publicly debate representatives from any organization or institution opposed to “campus carry.” Visit: www.concealedcampus.org

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus

TUSCON, AZ --(Ammoland.com)- Gun control critics are once again exploiting the dead to trumpet their own political agenda.

Hours after the Tuscon shooting spree that left 6 dead, 13 wounded and a US Congresswoman fighting for her life, local officials in Arizona are callously twisting a national tragedy to their own ends, making emotional arguments against state legislation which actually enhances the ability of law-abiding citizens to protect themselves

Pima County Democratic Party Chairman Jeff Rogers used a CNN interview on Saturday to slam a bill allowing lawful concealed carry on campus, calling such an idea “crazy” in light of the shooting. In a press conference on Sunday, Pima County Sheriff Clarence Dupnik called the bill “ridiculous.” Then Brady Campaign spokesman Paul Helmke took to the airwaves to decry the ease of obtaining firearms in the US.

Now Students for Concealed Carry, the leading voice for self defense rights on college campuses, is firing back.

“What these guys are saying doesn’t even match the facts of the case,” said David Burnett, president and spokesman for the group.

“Our bill has nothing to do with college drop-outs who can’t even pass an army drug test. It’s about allowing professors, ROTC cadets or anyone that has a concealed carry permit to be armed for their own protection.”

Records indicate that the Tuscon shooting suspect attended college in 2010, engaging in outbursts and rants that unnerved other classmates.

According to the Washington Post, one classmate wrote “Needless to say, I sit by the door. … [The suspect] is one of those whose picture you see on the news, after he has come into class with an automatic weapon.” The suspect eventually dropped out of school.

Reports also indicate the suspect cleared the FBI criminal check required by the Brady Handgun Violence Prevention Act prior to a firearm purchase. Failing the check requires a person to have been declared mentally defective or committed to a mental institution.

“This is exactly what we need to protect against,” said Burnett. “The suspect showed warning signs, but no one followed up on them, and there’s no law against being creepy. If anything needs changing, it’s the laws about mental illness, not guns.

“Until we have a way of finding and stopping every deranged killer, we can’t forbid citizens from protecting themselves.”

About:
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC) is a national, non-partisan, grassroots organization comprising over 40,000 college students, professors, college employees, parents of college students, and concerned citizens who believe that holders of state-issued concealed handgun licenses should be allowed the same measure of personal protection on college campuses that current laws afford them virtually everywhere else. SCCC has members in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. SCCC is not affiliated with the NRA or any other organization. SCCC extends an open invitation to publicly debate representatives from any organization or institution opposed to “campus carry.” Visit: www.concealedcampus.org

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus

Any Campus, USA --(Ammoland.com)- Dr. Bill Holda, president of Kilgore College in Kilgore, TX, will have to do some fast backpedaling if he’s to have any hope of outrunning his recent comments about the 1991 massacre at a Luby’s Cafeteria in Killeen, TX – the second deadliest mass shooting in U.S. history, surpassed only by the 2007 Virginia Tech massacre.

Dr. Holda recently angered both survivors of the shooting and concealed carry advocates by claiming that some of the victims of the massacre (which became a rallying cry for supporters of lawful self-defense) actually shot each other.

Six days after the November 2 elections, Texas State Representative-Elect David Simpson (R-Longview) pre-filed a bill that would allow holders of state-issued concealed handgun licenses to carry concealed handguns on Texas college campuses. This did not sit well with Dr. Holda, who chastised the move as “unfortunate and ill-advised”i and criticized Simpson for filing the bill without first consulting him. Holda proclaimed, “What we want is for representatives to file legislation based on a good body of information.”ii

As an example of the type of information he believes Simpson failed to consider, Holda pointed to the Luby’s massacre, telling a local TV station, “[During the Luby’s massacre] you had multiple shooters, and innocent people were killed by other people who had concealed, licensed handguns, because they weren’t sure who was the shooter and who was a defender.”iii

Holda’s frightening depiction of the 1991 mass shooting suffers from only one flaw: It is a complete and total fabrication that lacks even a hint of truth. The State of Texas did not begin issuing or honoring concealed handgun licenses until 1996, five years after the Luby’s massacre. At the time of the shooting, state law made it a serious crime for anyone other than a law enforcement officer to carry a handgun. All of the victims (23 killed, 20 wounded) were shot by the lone gunman himself.

Bill Holda’s grievous misstatement of fact is not sitting well with at least one survivor of the Luby’s massacre. After watching her parents die in the attack, Dr. Suzanna Gratia Hupp became one of America’s leading advocates for the legalization of concealed carry. She testified before Congress and several state legislatures that she very well could have stopped the gunman had she not been required to leave her gun in her car.

Dr. Hupp, a former Texas State Representative and the author of From Luby’s to the Legislature, responded to Holda’s comments by stating, “I’m not sure which is more offensive, the apparent complete fabrication of Dr. Holda’s Luby’s Cafeteria story or the lack of journalistic effort by the reporter to correct his fictional tale.” Addressing Bill Holda directly, Hupp added, “Dr. Holda, the only person who had a gun was the madman slaughtering those around me like fish in a barrel. I defy you to name one place in this country where a mass shooting has occurred despite the people there being allowed to carry concealed handguns for protection. These madmen go where they know they will get a high body count.”

Bill Holda’s statement about the Luby’s massacre is unparalleled in its audacity, but it is not the only time he has stumbled over the facts, in his rush to speak out against the pending “campus carry” bill. Holda recently accusediv Texas legislators of hypocritically pushing campus carry legislation while refusing to allow concealed handguns in the House and Senate galleries. In reality, licensed concealed carry is now allowedv throughout the Texas Capitol, including in the chamber galleries.

Dr. Holda also describedvi Simpson’s legislation as an unfunded mandate and suggested that the bill is not in keeping with a fiscally conservative agenda, despite the fact that no provision of the bill places any fiscal demands on colleges or universities. The bill, as written, would simply place colleges and universities under the same rules as churches, movie theaters, shopping malls, office buildings, grocery stores, restaurants, banks, etc.

Dr. Bill Holda is not shy about his belief that he should have been consulted prior to the filing of this bill, yet everything he has said on the subject has been not only wrong but monumentally and offensively wrong. By repeatedly demonstrating his ignorance of the facts, Bill Holda serves as a perpetual rebuttal to his own assertion that college officials, not state legislators, are best equipped to determine whether or not licensed concealed carry should be allowed on Texas college campuses.

W. Scott Lewis, Texas legislative director for Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, lamented, “I can only assume that this is what we have to look forward to from the ivory tower academics who claim to know what’s best for the adults working and studying at state-funded colleges.”

Lewis then added, “I can’t imagine that Dr. Holda is anxious to make any more public statements on this issue, but if he is serious about wanting a ‘good body of information,’ or if he just wants another opportunity to stick his foot in his mouth, my organization would welcome the opportunity to hold an open debate on the Kilgore College campus.”

For more information, contact Daniel Crocker (Daniel.Crocker@ConcealedCampus.org) or W. Scott Lewis (Scott@CampusCarry.com), or visit www.TexasStudentsCarry.com.

About:
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC) is a national, non-partisan, grassroots organization comprising over 44,000 college students, professors, college employees, parents of college students, and concerned citizens who believe that holders of state-issued concealed handgun licenses should be allowed the same measure of personal protection on college campuses that current laws afford them virtually everywhere else. SCCC has members in all fifty states and the District of Columbia. SCCC is not affiliated with the NRA or any other organization. SCCC extends an open invitation to publicly debate representatives from any organization or institution opposed to “campus carry.” Visit: www.concealedcampus.org

• i Draper, J. (2008, Nov. 13). “College president balks at freshman representative’s handgun bill.” Kilgore News Herald, p. 1. (http://www.kilgorenewsherald.com/news/2010-11-13/Front_Page/College_president_balks_at_freshman_representative.html)
• ii Ibid.
• iii Claiborne, C. (Reporter). (2010, Nov. 16). KETK News at Ten [Television broadcast]. Tyler, TX: KETK NBC 56. (http://www.ketknbc.com/news/one-local-college-president-says-no-way-to-campus-guns).
• iv Draper, J. (2008, Nov. 13). “College president balks at freshman representative’s handgun bill.” Kilgore News Herald, p. 1. (http://www.kilgorenewsherald.com/news/2010-11-13/Front_Page/College_president_balks_at_freshman_representative.html)
• v Tripp, A. (2010, April 20). “Metal Detectors in the Texas Capitol and CHLs.” Message posted to https://www.tsra.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=240:metal-detectors-in-the-texas-capitol-and-chls&catid=55:tripp-talk&Itemid=113
• vi Draper, J. (2008, Nov. 13). “College president balks at freshman representative’s handgun bill.” Kilgore News Herald, p. 1. (http://www.kilgorenewsherald.com/news/2010-11-13/Front_Page/College_president_balks_at_freshman_representative.html)

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus

Any Campus, USA --(Ammoland.com)- Once again, Colorado is the scene for one of the next steps in the fight to restore the right to self-defense on campus, as once again one of their flagship universities turns to the courts to validate its defiance of state law.

The University of Colorado (CU) is being sued by Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC) for its refusal to comply with the state law passed in 2002 which restricts entities that can prohibit concealed carry.

The university board of regents still asserts their right to enact campus-wide bans on concealed carry, despite its absence on the list of approved self-defense regulators.

In December 2008, SCCC in conjunction with the Mountain States Legal Foundation sued CU for violating Colorado law. The court dismissed the lawsuit, but an appeal quickly brought victory. The CU Board of Regents voted to appeal.

On Monday, the Colorado Supreme Court agreed to grant a writ of certiorari to CU in their appeal.

At issue, states the court, is:

• Whether the General Assembly intended the Concealed Carry Act to divest the Board of Regents of its constitutional and statutory authority to enact safety and welfare measures for the University of Colorado’s campuses.
• Whether a constitutional challenge to a statute or ordinance regulating the right to bear arms is governed by the deferential “rational basis” standard of review or a more stringent “reasonable exercise” standard of review.

Gun control advocate Paul Helmke issued a statement, saying “We urge the Court to allow the University of Colorado to continue to protect student safety by prohibiting armed students and visitors.”

Oddly enough, safety appears to be the last thing on the minds of Paul Helmke or the CU board of regents; crime at CU has risen 35 percent in the past four years under CU’s gun ban, while crime at nearby Colorado State University has dropped 60 percent in the same time frame. (CSU has allowed concealed carry by licensed individuals since 2003 without incident.)

“Gun control advocates stubbornly stick to their theory that paper and ink on the doors will prevent crime,” stated SCCC President David Burnett.

“While they desperately pursue validation from higher courts, 14 other colleges have recognized that the fear of encountering armed resistance repels criminals far better than stickers. At best, the anti-defense advocates will be taking one step forward and 14 steps back.”

SCCC advocates only those citizens already possessing the credentials be allowed to carry a concealed weapon to carry on campus for self-protection.

About:
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus is a national grassroots organization consisting of over 44,000 college students, faculty members, parents, and concerned citizens who support the right to self-defense on campus. SCCC is non-partisan and not affiliated with any political party or organization. Visit: www.concealedcampus.org

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus

Any Campus, USA --(Ammoland.com)- So, you’re settling back into the swing of things on campus. You’ve dropped your jaw at the textbook prices, picked out your seat in the classroom for the semester, and maybe already knocked out an early quiz from an overzealous professor.

If you’ve paid attention, someone on your campus has probably already become a victim of a crime.

The bustling hive of activity on campus is great, but it’s also scary business…the “gun-free zones” are back in session; an open invitation for a psychotic killer or rapist.

Of course, no one thinks your school will be targeted. But then, that’s what they thought about Virginia Tech, NIU or University of Alabama (Huntsville) too.

It’s time to take the next first step. It’s time to get people talking, get their attention and remind them that feeling safe is a feeling, not reality.

The first step is really easy. We have some stylish yet practical posters for your use on campus. Take any one of them, print out a few copies, grab some tape and push-pins and plaster them around campus:

• http://concealedcampus.org/UserFiles/File/Posters/WorkedSoWell.pdf
• http://concealedcampus.org/UserFiles/File/Posters/Convenience.pdf
• http://concealedcampus.org/UserFiles/File/Posters/SafeforWhom.pdf
• http://concealedcampus.org/UserFiles/File/Posters/Signs.pdf

Get some friends and go into co-op mode, targeting more buildings for better results! It will get people talking and you don’t even have to argue with them. Let us know how it goes!

One more thing. As an all-volunteer organization, we’re always looking for more volunteers. We need state directors, campus leaders and regional organizers. These people organize and coordinate in the regional, state and local levels. (Now those titles make more sense, don’t they.) Maybe now is your time to take the next step and take the lead. We don’t have the luxury of getting paid like our opponents do, but have something they don’t; the tide of freedom and truth. The rest of it is up to us!

Are you a graphics guru? A prince of Publisher? A phantom of photography? Draw cartoons or work with Photoshop? We need creative people like you to help design and build up SCCC promotional materials. Give us a holler and put those skills to work for a great cause.

Everyone’s good at something, and you’re not getting this e-mail because you are lukewarm about concealed carry on campus. Maybe it’s time you combine your passion for this with your own talents and help us make something cool.

Thanks for reading and we’ll talk again soon!

Gun Free Zones Worked So Well

About:
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus is a national grassroots organization consisting of over 44,000 college students, faculty members, parents, and concerned citizens who support the right to self-defense on campus. SCCC is non-partisan and not affiliated with any political party or organization. Visit: www.concealedcampus.org

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus

Any Campus, USA --(Ammoland.com)- How many robberies do you think took place on America’s colleges last year? How about rapes? Assaults?

Well, the answer is, we don’t know. But we do know what those numbers were for 2008, the latest year data was available, and according to the FBI, Secret Service and the Department of Education, there were 3,287 rapes, 60 killings, 5,026 assaults and 4,562 robberies just in 2008.

Those numbers (plus other startling figures about targeted campus attacks) are now available in a report on the website (concealedcampus.org), or on Opposing Views.

Next time someone tells you America’s colleges are safe, or if you’re trying to convince college administrators, you might print out that report and show them that crime on campus nationwide is rising, not falling.

You may have heard by now that the University of Colorado board of regents narrowly elected to continue wasting the college’s money in a power struggle over whether they can suspend Constitutional rights or not. SCCC’s Colorado State Director (and attorney for the case!) Jim Manley was interviewed by NRA News about the lawsuit. You can read the full story on the website, or you can read it on AmmoLand Shooting Sports News and offer your own comments. No worries…15 colleges in Colorado already remitted on their policies, it’s just a matter of time.

John Stossel on Gun Rights
As mentioned last week, reporter John Stossel tackled the issue of guns and crime, featuring SCCC’s David Burnett in the second segment of the show. The clip is on the website now (concealedcampus.org in case you forgot) plus a bonus “web-only” Q&A segment David got to sit in on. It’s also on YouTube (youtube.com/concealedcampus).

Just to set the record straight, unlike John Stossel indicated, David did not found Students for Concealed Carry on Campus. The credit officially goes to Chris Brown, even though he was not involved in its growth beyond the founding.

Colin Goddard, a victim of the Virginia Tech shooting, appeared to give the other side on Stossel. And you know how the other side is…he didn’t present a very polished or logical side of the argument. Even more unusual was the sight of Goddard with his own film crew shooting a documentary about himself on the streets of New York. It’s unfortunate when people capitalize on tragedy…even their own.

Sunday night, David also appeared on Armed American Radio for two and a half hours, discussing the Stossel appearance and other aspects of SCCC. MP3s of the show will be available soon on ArmedAmericanRadio.org.

There now, and you thought summertime might be a slow time for a college-based activist group! We’re still laying plans for the e-mail promotion, plus some website upgrades in the near-future in response to some of your requests.

Quick hits:

• Chicago’s gun ban will be affirmed or overturned by the Supreme Court on Monday, June 28. Stay tuned.
• SCCC members are invited to attend the NRA U, an educational training seminar to make you a more effective activist
• Make sure you subscribe to our YouTube channel (youtube.com/concealedcampus) if you haven’t already, plus Twitter (twitter.com/concealedcampus). Invite your friends to sign up for these e-mails too!

We had a few donations in response to our request last week…thank you so much! Money being the grease that makes these organizations run smoothly, we’d sure appreciate the rest of you pitching in. We promise you’ll get it back in services, tools and education on the website! Go to concealedcampus.org and click on the donate window.

Thanks for your continued devotion and service. We’ll talk again soon, and keep up the good fight!

About:
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus is a national grassroots organization consisting of over 44,000 college students, faculty members, parents, and concerned citizens who support the right to self-defense on campus. SCCC is non-partisan and not affiliated with any political party or organization. Visit: www.concealedcampus.org

It seems CU would rather risk a repeat of Virginia Tech than let its staff and students defend themselves..? - AmmoLand.com

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus

Colorado --(Ammoland.com)- The University of Colorado voted Friday to continue fighting for the right to ban guns on campus.

The CU Board of Regents voted 5-4 in favor of appealing the lawsuit brought by Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC), which sought legal confirmation that college directors lack authority to suspend Colorado law or Constitutional rights.

Clearly, power and politics, rather than concern for student safety, are ruling the day for CU’s regents. Crime at CU has risen 35 percent in the past four years at the college which prohibits lawful concealed carry, while crime at Colorado State University has dropped 60 percent in the same time frame. No thinking person can look at those numbers and still assert that allowing concealed carry will prove dangerous for the campus.

In fact, other colleges in Colorado have seen the handwriting on the wall with the recent legal victory won by SCCC and changed their policies and allowed concealed carry on campus.

The Associated Press reported that Tillie Bishop, the swing vote, insisted the regents must be allowed to set the rules for a college campus. This argument may hold for private institutions with the authority to set their own rules on firearms as much as attire or conduct, but public taxpayer-funded institutions must not and do not possess the right to govern or suspend the right to bear arms any more than they can suspend free speech, or govern what books to read or what religion to follow. A right is a right.

Regent Michael Carrigan claimed SCCC first chose the oppositional approach by bringing a lawsuit, asking instead that students, faculty and staff be mustered to support ending the gun ban. It appears Regent Carrigan is under the mistaken impression that a majority must express support for a right before it can be granted. (It is doubtful that such a standard would be applied to freedom of speech or of the press.)

Regent Stephen Ludwig reiterated the well-worn and well-discredited argument that students experimenting with sex, alcohol and drugs don’t need guns added to the mix. Regent Ludwig should immediately begin tracking down and reporting students who are both licensed to carry concealed weapons and involved with illicit drug use, or who are armed while intoxicated, since either is grounds for permit revocation as well as criminal prosecution.

SCCC advocates allowing citizens who already possess the credentials to carry a concealed weapon to carry on campus. Arguments against “arming students” are not relevant, since the argument is not about who should carry, but whether or not colleges can enforce discriminatory policies against those who already carry.

By pursuing a costly legal battle with slim odds of success at the expense of the university – students, faculty, staff and ultimately parents and taxpayers – the CU Board of Regents continues to prove its willingness to put personal politics and authority ahead of the greater good of the entire college.

About:
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus is a national grassroots organization consisting of over 44,000 college students, faculty members, parents, and concerned citizens who support the right to self-defense on campus. SCCC is non-partisan and not affiliated with any political party or organization. Visit: www.concealedcampus.org

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus

Any Campus, USA --(Ammoland.com)- First off, we realize we haven’t been really great at the whole communication thing. Students for Concealed Carry on Campus wants to keep the dialog open between everyone, starting now.

This organization isn’t made up of any one person or group of people. It’s people like you, our classmates, campus leaders and parents and teachers and board members and supporters combined. This spindly little group has already outpaced the big dogs in fighting for the right to self-defense, and it’s through efforts like yours.

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus has got some great things we’re working on putting together for the coming semester. First, we’re looking at pulling in some prizes and doing an e-mail drawing for a prize giveaway. This will be great incentive for those of you collecting e-mails across campus this fall, but the bonus is, you get entered too!

Your feedback and thoughts on how to improve this are hereby officially solicited.

On the Colorado front, the Board of Regents at the University of Colorado will be meeting this coming week to decide whether or not they should continue Students for Concealed Carry’s lawsuit challenging their ban on concealed carry. As you’ve already seen on the website, the numbers show that crime went down on the campuses that allowed concealed carry, and rose on campuses denying self-defense. Let’s hope CU can see the handwriting on the wall and remove their ban on self-defense.

On the national media front, look for the latest issue of the NRA’s America’s First Freedom magazine to include a cover story on the fight for self-defense on campus. This will go out to a lot of great allies in the cause, and can be a great tool for telling others about our group. The magazine hits mailboxes this week, and will be online a few weeks after that.

Also, look for SCCC’s PR Director, David Burnett, to appear on John Stossel’s Fox Business show “Stossel” this Thursday at 8pm EST. David will be up against the usual anti-defense critics, but John Stossel is always very fair and even-handed.

On the website, be on the lookout for a new report to be issued based on the FBI’s latest breakdown of crime on college campuses.

Finally, what update would be complete without a tiny pitch for money? We’re still running this group on a shoestring budget, and even a few dollars shaved off your summer job paycheck to help keep the lights on would be appreciated. You can securely donate on the website, www.concealedcampus.org, via PayPal.

About:
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus is a national grassroots organization consisting of over 44,000 college students, faculty members, parents, and concerned citizens who support the right to self-defense on campus. SCCC is non-partisan and not affiliated with any political party or organization. Visit: www.concealedcampus.org

CSU Backs Down From Gun Ban

Rocky Mountain Gun Owners

Colorado - -(AmmoLand.com)- Today the CSU Board of Governor’s voted to rescind their illegal ban on concealed carry on campus.

“They didn’t have a legal leg to stand on,” said Dudley Brown, Executive Director of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners (RMGO). “We told them in January, in no uncertain terms, that state law did not allow them to create their own gun ban. Unfortunately, it took a lawsuit to force them to back down.”

RMGO filed suit against CSU’s Board of Governors on April 15th, proving that unelected board had no authority to override existing state law, which explicitly allows permit holders to carry on college campuses. A day later, a Colorado Appeals Court ruled against CU’s ban on carrying.

“This has been a good couple of weeks for law-abiding citizens who want to defend themselves on Colorado campuses, and a terrible week for criminals who assume no one is able to defend themselves on campuses,” Brown said. “We’re now going to track the policy of every secondary education campus in the state — every community college, every university, all of them — and file suit against those who attempt to violate Colorado law.”

“The citizens, students and faculty at these facilities should thank the members and donors of Rocky Mountain Gun Owners, the organization responsible for correcting these errant bureaucrats, and Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, who put a lot of hard work into this battle.”

Rocky Mountain Gun Owners is Colorado’s largest gun rights organization.

About:
Based in Colorado, Rocky Mountain Gun Owners is Colorado’s largest state-based gun lobby. It is a group solely dedicated to the Second Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. Our strategy is simple: don’t give an inch. Visit: www.rmgo.org

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus

America --(Ammoland.com)- College students across America will once again strap on empty holsters in an act of silent protest against laws and policies banning licensed concealed carry on campus.

The protest, sponsored by Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC), will take place April 5-9, 2010 and comes on the heels of college administrators discriminating against concealed carry permit holders, and censoring students who disagree.

According to the group, colleges have repeatedly ignored or attempted to keep students from discussing the issue. In Pennsylvania, one college banned SCCC member Christine Brashier from handing out fliers about the group, stating, “You may want to discuss this topic but the college does not, and you cannot make us.” Another college in Texas tried to block students from wearing the symbolic empty holsters on campus until a federal judge ruled that their ban violated the First Amendment. And a recent decision at Colorado State University overturned a long-standing policy that allowed concealed carry, despite the fact that crime on campus decreased rapidly since allowing concealed carry on campus, and no problems were reported among permit holders. The ban was opposed by students, Student Government, and local law enforcement.

“Colleges aren’t content to ban the right to self-defense anymore,” said David Burnett, a spokesman for SCCC. “Now they’re trying to suspend the right to freedom of speech. They want to silence us and hope we’ll go away. It’s outrageous and our membership cares too much about self defense to remain silent.”

The group was formed shortly after the Virginia Tech shooting, and advocates that persons with state-issued permits be allowed to carry concealed handguns on college grounds.

“Compulsory defenselessness doesn’t make students safer, it makes them less safe,” said Burnett. “A piece of paper taped to the door saying guns are against the rules has yet to stop a criminal, whether a mass shooter or an armed rapist. It merely assures the criminal that victims are incapable of effective resistance. There are no security checkpoints or metal detectors to pass through in order to enter a college campus and absolutely no way for colleges to control what a criminal brings on campus. Until they can take responsibility for our safety and guarantee our protection, colleges can’t be allowed to deny us the right to self-defense.”

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus is a national grassroots organization consisting of over 44,000 college students, faculty members, parents, and concerned citizens who support the right to self-defense on campus. SCCC is non-partisan and not affiliated with any political party or organization.

Anchorage Second Amendment Task Force

Anchorage, AK – -(AmmoLand.com)- Anchorage 2ATF has been involved with the carry on campus issue. Legal contends it’s the right of students to carry weapons for self defense as affirmed by the U.S. Constitution and State of Alaska Constitutions as well as state statutes. UAA is in violation of state law by its policy of no weapons on campus.

UAA has two options to comply with state law. (1) UAA shall abolish the no weapons on campus policy. OR (2) UAA shall comply with state statute by providing adequate security screening and armed guards at all entrances on all facilities where firearms are banned. Per: Board of Regents 02.09.020

We are aware that students have been attempting to get this situation rectified for more than a year and have been largely ignored.

Some of the actions are listed below.

• April 23, 2009 Off Campus Protest
• Dec. 3, 2009 Mr. Hines letter to Board Of Regents
• Feb. 8, 2010 Reply to George Hines declining campus carry
• Feb. 17, 2010 The threat of on campus armed protest resulted in UAA President Hamilton’s phone call to Mr. Hines

Recently we learned that Mr. George Hines, a UAA student threatened a protest on campus in an attempt to get the situation resolved. Mr. Hines has been granted a meeting with the Board of Regents scheduled for April 15, 2010 in Dillingham as a result of his action.

The 2nd Amendment Task Force Network and affiliated organizations say it’s time to get this situation resolved before a tragic incident occurs. Many also think that the Board of Regents will use more delaying tactics with Mr. Hines since they wield so much power over him. Many are suggesting we start immediate armed protests on campus with media attendance to bring this issue to resolution. Some want to protest daily and others want random protests once or twice a week.

This will be a topic of discussion at this week’s forum. If you have thoughts on this please contact us by email with your concerns. anchorage2atf@gmail.com

Monday Mar 15 6:30PM at Mei Garden (The old Royal Fork near Sams club on Bragaw)

About:
The mission of The Anchorage Second Amendment Task Force is to provide Alaskans with the knowledge of the meaning and true purpose of the second amendment to the U.S. Constitution, with which they may conduct themselves as responsible citizens of our republic. Visit: www.anchorage2atf.com

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus

USA - -(AmmoLand.com)- Have you ever seen an article in the news that makes you wonder where the country is headed? The ones I’m talking about concern young people who tend to show their ignorance of and lack of interest in things like the Second Amendment and gun rights?

Well, there is a large number of young folks out there who are working as hard as you are to ensure we get to keep those rights. The group I’m talking about is the Students for Concealed Carry on Campus.

Imagine this scenario: You are at least 21 years old. You have a concealed carry permit, issued by your county’s sheriff. You have decided that you want to start a local organization of like minded people. It would be for social and educational purposes such as enhancing knowledge and sharing information. You are told by the local government that you cannot do such a thing, purely due to it being related to guns. Nor would you be able to locally advertise in support of such an organization. And you certainly would be denied the use of any of the government’s facilities to have a meeting of such people. Use the “Community Center”? Well, not in this community, you don’t.

Wouldn’t you be outraged at such treatment?
Especially when this treatment is prohibited by state law and the US Constitution? Well, it is happening right now, all over the country! The great news is that there are many of our very best young Americans (and some not so young) working very hard to change this situation. It is called the Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, and they are continually working to eliminate such restrictions where and when they find them. And they need your help to do more of this very important work.

Here are some examples:

From a then-24 year old freshman in Pennsylvania: “When my college tried to infringe my freedom of speech because they did not want me talking about my Second Amendment rights, the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education came to my aid. If you google my name it will not be hard to find the news stories about it. ”

“I won, though it took 7 months to teach my college about the 1st Amendment, forcing CCAC to retract its unconstitutional solicitation policy and allow me to form a chapter of SCCC on a campus where a dean had told me “this would NEVER be allowed here” and I will win every battle like this because I am on the side of liberty and justice and anyone who opposes me is doing so out of an emotional fear and will not have a rational argument. If you find yourself in any similar situation I will help, and I will find help for you. “

Imagine a public college denying a citizen the 1st Amendment right because they wanted to use it to promote 2nd Amendment rights! However, this is more common than it should be – so we need to stand up and make ourselves heard. Just like she did.

Fox News’ Kelley Beaucar Vlahos reported at the time that . . . .

“The latest flare-up involves Christine Brashier, who says officials at the Community College of Allegheny County (CCAC) violated her First Amendment right to free speech when they stopped her from posting and distributing fliers advocating for concealed carry on campus, and for a new chapter of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC) at the college. The group has about a dozen chapters on other Pennsylvania campuses, Shibley said.

“I genuinely wanted to start discussion on the topic,” Brasier told FOXNews.com this week. ” I am not such an avid gun owner as much of the news has made me out to be — I simply believe in liberty and that college is the place for a debate about important issues such as this one.”

Brashier maintains she was hauled into a meeting with the dean, who told her “that the club would never be approved, that the school did not wish to discuss the topic, and to cease speaking about it as well as destroy the literature.” David Hoovler, a school spokesman, told FOXNews.com that “Brashier was a good student and that the incident had nothing to do with the issue of firearms on campus. The student government has the authority for approving campus organizations, he said, (emphasis added) and it’s all about procedure”.

But is it really about procedure?
Or about control, and treating students like children? This is certainly not treating people like the voting-age, non-criminal adults that they must be to obtain a concealed carry permit. Again from the  Fox News article:

“In March (2009), Central Connecticut State University student John Wahlberg and two classmates gave a presentation for their communications class on whether the death toll at Virginia Tech might have been smaller if faculty and students had been allowed to carry guns. That night, Wahlberg says, he was called into the campus police department, which already had a list of his registered guns, which were locked away off-campus.”

“Wahlberg’s professor had reported him to security out of “safety” concerns, according to The Recorder, the campus newspaper. Certainly, campus officials and campus law enforcement are against the idea of more guns in private citizens’ hands at school.

Lisa Sprague, president of the International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators, said the group put out a position statement after the Virginia Tech incident against concealed carry on campus. They say there is “no credible evidence to suggest that the presence of students carrying concealed weapons would reduce violence on our college campuses,” and could even serve to create more dangerous situations.”

Well, in the current case before the courts in Colorado, the proof that Ms. Sprague says she is seeking is plain for all to see.

During the timeframe that concealed carry was allowed on campus, the last seven years, the crime rate at that campus went down, significantly and steadily. It is now at about one third of its former level. Rapes have fallen 84%. Shouldn’t this get someone’s attention in a positive way?

Nearly lost in that current battle is the fact that the students at CUS have done a perfect job of not having any incidents involving those firearms that they carry. Is that not a “double win”? Less crime and none of the bad outcomes the administration, Brady and Violence Policy Center keep warning us about? Ah, sorry, you must be dreaming of an earlier time . . . .

This year, the CSU Faculty Policy Committee, decided a “feel-good” gun ban was needed. The student body clearly is opposed to this policy. Imagine their shock when the University’s Board of Directors, led by the president of the university, overturned the vote of the student body! Aren’t the administrators the ones who have kept saying it is all up to the students in their ability to self-govern? Another lie, obviously. It apparently means you can do what you want, students, as long as we agree.

What a way to set the example! They just want you to think you have say over your lives. Well, you can still vote, can’t you?

Are you outraged yet?
Are you ready to act? If you are thinking “no, not in my state, not at my son’s and daughter’s campus”, you are, unfortunately mistaken. This IS the case in the vast majority of campuses across the United States. Think it does not apply to you, just because you are older? Wrong. Think it doesn’t apply to you because you are a retired law enforcement person. Wrong again. Former military? Again, you are mistaken.

Everyone, not just students, is prohibited from carrying a gun on most campuses except active police. As indicated by the three robberies in the last month on our local University of Washington campus, this policy does not seem to work, preventively speaking.

So, what are you going to do about it? Whatever it is, start now. Educate your children and grandchildren about the importance of their rights wherever they are, including college campuses. Have them join SCCC. And you can too. Take action yourselves to help bring these schools to their senses concerning the basic human right to self-defense, let alone the right to carry on campus. This effort is primarily won or lost at the local and state level, and there is where we most need your help.

We also need campus leaders, state and regional directors, and not all of them need to be active students. We also need trainers and advisors for campuses to help them learn the “right stuff,” and to assist them with the pursuit of changes to local and state laws and regulations.

They also need your advice, your knowledge and your connections to ranges, training, state, county and city politicians and law enforcement officials, and to prospective donors who might be willing to help their fight for human rights. Welcome to this part of the fight to restore the basic rights of adults. Volunteer early and often!

Please email us at CCM@concealedcampus.org for more information, and to learn what you personally can do to help in your specific area, on the campus of your choice.

We want to thank very much the US Concealed Carry Association for helping us to bring this important message to you. And if you want to sign up your favorite college student with USCCA, please go to our website (http://www.concealedcampus.org/) to do so. USCCA has agreed to make a donation to us for everyone who joins their group through ours. Same great USCCA benefits and prices, while helping our young people continue SCCC’s important work.

What is Students for Concealed Carry on Campus?
Born out of the Virginia Tech shootings, and raised through the magic of the Internet, SCCC began as a Facebook page. It was formed for the discussion of this single issue, on-campus carry. This became a very hot topic as the story at VA Tech unfolded in April of 2007. Seemingly overnight, the members of the Facebook page grew extremely fast. It went from zero to over 20,000 members in a very short time. The organization grew from below, finally getting campus, state and national leadership in place.

There was no shortage of volunteers from among the students and even some from the staff and faculty of colleges and universities around the country. Communications became difficult as the number of members, now nearly 43,000, overwhelmed Facebook’s limits. SCCC has leaders at almost four hundred campuses in nearly every state in America. If you search Facebook for groups under “Concealed Carry students” you will see 381 different groups. Your favorite campus may be among them.

Note: All SSSC members are unpaid volunteers.

Author: Rick Walker, SSSC board member, USCCA member, Colonel, US Army, Retired

Thanks to Christa Brashier, Kacey Cooper, David Burnett, and Jim Manley, SSSC Regional or State Directors, for their contributions, as well as Fox News

About:
United States Concealed Carry Association is The Most Comprehensive, Up-To-Date Resource for the Law-Abiding, Armed Citizen. Visit: www.usconcealedcarry.com

National Rifle Association

Fairfax, Virginia – -(AmmoLand.com)- On Wednesday, January 20, Colorado State University (CSU) formally announced their draft proposal to prohibit firearms on all CSU campuses.

Exempt from the ban would be weapons used by law enforcement, military and the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).

This draft policy will be brought up for consideration at the CSU Board of Governors meeting on Tuesday, February 23. A copy of the draft can be found at www.safety.colostate.edu/files/weapons_policy_draft_01_15_10.pdf.

Last year, the CSU Board of Governors drafted the policy knowing that it would violate the Colorado state firearm preemption law and the Colorado Uniform Shall-Issue Concealed Carry Law. Current state law strictly regulates the carry or transport of firearms on schools, colleges and universities.

It is important that the people of Colorado voice their concerns to the CSU President that the policy must uphold the Colorado law and allow permit holders to carry concealed for self-defense.

Please contact President Tony Frank TODAY by phone at 970-491-6211 or email presofc@colostate.edu and respectfully urge him to comply with Colorado law.

About:
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen’s group. Four million members strong, NRA continues to uphold the Second Amendment and advocates enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation’s leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the armed services. Visit www.nra.org

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus at Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech, VA - -(AmmoLand.com)- On Monday, February 1, 2010 the Virginia Tech University Council will have their first reading of a resolution that would effectively Ban Ammunition, including Paintball and Airsoft, on campus and in dormitories.

Being the president of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus at Virginia Tech and a member of the Pistol and Rifle Club, I recognize how the passage of this resolution could negatively affect members of these organizations. It will also greatly affect those of you in the Airsoft Club, Paintball Club, Clay Target Team, and others. As such, I want to give you some background on the resolution and ask for your help in seeing that it does not pass.

I have attached a copy of the resolution:

Resolutions for Changes to the Hokie Handbook (www.hokiehandbook.vt.edu)

First Reading by Commission on Student Affairs: November 19, 2009
Second Reading by Commission on Student Affairs: December 3, 2009
Approved by Commission on Student Affairs: December 3, 2009
First Reading by University Council: February 1, 2010
Second Reading by University Council:
Approved by University Council:
Approved by the President:
Approved by Board of Visitors:
Effective Date:

Commission on Student Affairs Resolution CSA 2009-2010C

Weapons Policy for Student Code of Conduct

• Whereas, the University Student Conduct System is an educational tool with two main objectives: to hold students accountable for unacceptable behavior, and to modify those behaviors deemed unacceptable by the university, and
• Whereas, the University Student Conduct System strives to address unacceptable behavior in a manner that informs students and guides them toward a greater sense of personal responsibility, and more mature and ethical standards, and
• Whereas, current policy (contained in the Hokie Handbook) already states that unauthorized storage, possession, and/or use of weapons is prohibited on university property, and
• Whereas, the University is committed to policies and procedures that address campus safety and security, and
• Whereas, the University would like to convey to students that since weapons are not allowed in on campus residential facilities that ammunition should also be prohibited, therefore let it be

Resolved, that Policy # 8300, Student Code of Conduct – Weapons be amended as follows:

Student Code of Conduct – Weapons

Unauthorized possession, storage, or control of firearms, weapons, on university property, including storing weapons in vehicles on campus as well as in the residence halls. Furthermore, ammunition can not be stored in any residence halls on campus. (Note: organizational weapons of the Virginia Tech Corps of Cadets, approved by the commandant, are not prohibited by this policy.) Weapons

Firearms are defined as any gun, rifle, pistol, or handgun designed to fire any projectile including but not limited to bullets, BBs, pellets, or shots (including paint balls), regardless of the propellant used. Ammunition is defined as any material intended for use in a firearm, capable of being projected by a weapon and/or makes the weapon operational. Other weapons are defined as any instrument of combat or any object not designed as an instrument of combat but carried for the purpose of inflicting or threatening bodily injury.

Examples include but are not limited to knives with fixed blades or pocket knives with blades longer than 4 inches, razors, metal knuckles, blackjacks, hatchets, bows and arrows, nun chukkas, foils, stun weapons, or any explosive or incendiary device. Possession of realistic replicas of weapons on campus is prohibited. Stun weapon is defined as any device that emits a momentary or pulsed output, which is electrical, audible, optical or electromagnetic in nature and which is designed to temporarily incapacitate a person.

Students who store weapons in residence hall rooms, who brandish weapons, or who use a weapon in a reckless manner may face disciplinary action, which may include suspension or dismissal from the university. Students who store ammunition in the residence halls will face disciplinary action. Exceptions to possessing weapons may be made in the case of university functions or activities and for educational exhibitions or displays. Exceptions must be approved by the Vice President for Administrative Services, in consultation with appropriate university offices.

This policy does not prohibit the possession of firearms by persons, such as law enforcement officers, who are authorized by law to do so in the performance of their duties. A weapons storage program is available. The storage program applies to the weapon and ammunition. Ammunition that will not be stored includes Paintballs, BB’s, Air Soft projectiles, Nerf gun projectiles, and CO2 Cartridges. Interested persons should contact the Virginia Tech Police (Sterrett Facilities Complex, 231-6411.)

I want to point out a few key things:

• Ammunition (including bullets, BBs, airsoft pellets, and paintball) would now fall under the definition of a weapon, the possession of which on campus and in dorms would be punishable (up to dismissal or suspension from VT)
• The VT Police Department will begin storing CERTAIN types of ammunition (NOT airsoft or paintball) on a first come, first serve basis. There is absolutely NO indication of how much ammunition they will be able to accommodate.

Myself, Ken Stanton (VP of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus at VT), and Ethan Reed (Secretary of Pistol & Rifle Club) were present at the last meeting in which this resolution was discussed (the Commission on Student Affairs meeting).

Mrs. Frances Keene, the author of this resolution, cites “safety issues”(ie explosions of ammunition during a fire) as her main reason for concern.

Despite Ethan citing opposing research on the issue of safety, many members of the commission chose to simply trust Mrs. Keene on the issue, mentioning perceived fears as their reason for wanting to pass the resolution.

Further, these safety issues do not explain the reasoning behind also banning paintballs and airsoft pellets.

After discussing the safety issues and concerns about how much ammunition the VTPD would or would not be able to store, several members of the commission raised concerns about not having enough information to make an informed vote on the issue.

A motion was made to resume discussion and invite representatives who were more knowledgeable on all sides of the issue, but this motion was struck down. With “encouragement” from a few key members of the commission, a hasty vote was made, and the resolution passed.

I am a member of the University Council where the resolution will be heard on Monday, and I am more than willing to speak to this issue. However, I cannot do this alone. We need to make the council aware that there is credible research showing that safety is not an issue in ammunition storage on campus. We also need to show them exactly who this ammunition ban would affect (ie you and/or your group’s members who live on campus).

The council meets in Pamplin 1045 from 3-5pm on February 1; this resolution is one of the first things on the agenda for the meeting, so please be prompt.

Feel free to email me with any questions or comments.

About:
SCCC at Virginia Tech (SCCC at VT) is a local chapter of the national organization, Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC), founded to organize locally and to address issues specific to the university and the state of Virginia. Membership is currently based off of the Facebook group, with over 200 members.

National Rifle Association

Colorado --(AmmoLand.com)- On Wednesday, January 20, Colorado State University (CSU) formally announced their draft proposal to prohibit firearms on all CSU campuses.

Exempt from the ban would be weapons used by law enforcement, military and the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (ROTC).

This draft policy will be brought up for consideration at the CSU Board of Governors meeting on Tuesday, February 23. A copy of the draft can be found at www.safety.colostate.edu/files/weapons_policy_draft_01_15_10.pdf.

Last year, the CSU Board of Governors drafted the policy knowing that it would violate the Colorado state firearm preemption law and the Colorado Uniform Shall-Issue Concealed Carry Law. Current state law strictly regulates the carry or transport of firearms on schools, colleges and universities.

It is important that Colorado’s NRA members voice their concerns to the CSU President that the policy must uphold the Colorado law and allow permit holders to carry concealed for self-defense.

Please contact President Tony Frank TODAY by phone at 970-491-6211 or email presofc@colostate.edu and respectfully urge him to comply with Colorado law.

National Rifle Association

New York, NY --(AmmoLand.com)- The carrying of firearms on college campuses remains hotly debated these days. Recently, that debate has centered on two prominent Colorado universities.

Last week, the Colorado State University (CSU) Student Senate voted overwhelmingly (21-3) to continue allowing students with valid state-issued carry permits to carry concealed firearms on campus.

The local Sheriff endorsed the students’ decision. But the nine-member CSU Board of Governors overruled the decision, voting on Friday to strike down the proposal.

A final decision by CSU President Dr. Anthony A. Frank on the proposal is expected soon. In the meantime, Frank will review recommendations from both the student government and his public safety and cabinet members.

Former Colorado Congressman Tom Tancredo (R) reportedly called the CSU decision “stupid.” Tancredo has proposed a 2010 ballot measure that would ask voters to recommend to Colorado’s state officials that they oppose all forms of gun restrictions. A December 7, 2009 State Bill Colorado article reports that Tancredo said the issue is about self-defense, stopping “horrendous” incidents and protecting the Second Amendment.

“Do you want to protect people, or do you want to be politically correct? Which is your goal?” Tancredo asked.

“You do realize that there are about 300 million firearms in the United States in private hands. If the opponents of concealed-carry and of private ownership of firearms were right, every city in the United States would be Beirut,” he said.

Tancredo went on to note that statistics indicate gun violence in the United States has been going down over the last decade, as gun ownership has been increasing.

Meanwhile, the University of Colorado (UC) also took up the issue of banning firearms on campus last week when they confirmed a ban on “rum roll” Nerf guns!  Yes, Nerf guns!  You know, those toy guns that shoot soft spongy balls? The ones kids play with in the family room? Yes, those Nerf guns.

It seems that the game of “humans vs. zombies” has become a national craze on college campuses. The game involves “zombie” students attempting to eliminate “human” students by pelting them with spongy Nerf balls or balled-up socks. When campus security officials got wind of the game, they moved quickly to ban the Nerf guns. Students using the play guns could be charged with violations of the student-conduct policy or even arrested on charges of unlawful conduct.

So, while Nerf guns may be safe to sell in “Kids R Us” and safe for use by children in their home, apparently they are seen as enough of a grave danger for college students that UC has banned them.

“We told them that the violation of the weapons policy is a serious thing,” said CU spokesman Bronson Hilliard. “If a third party happened upon this and called 911, we’d have to respond as if it were a real incident.”

About:
Established in 1871, the National Rifle Association is America’s oldest civil rights and sportsmen’s group. Four million members strong, NRA continues its mission to uphold Second Amendment rights and to advocate enforcement of existing laws against violent offenders to reduce crime. The Association remains the nation’s leader in firearm education and training for law-abiding gun owners, law enforcement and the military.

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus at Virginia Tech

Virginia Tech --(AmmoLand.com)- I was finally able to print the petition and get a few free minutes to take it over to Dr. Steger, so I headed toward Burruss – luck was on my side.

I ran into Dr. Steger on the way to his car, so I was able to engage him personally. I told him that we held some events last week, and that we created a petition to express our concerns to the University. So, here’s where it got interesting.

First thing, he smiles at me and says “I don’t know if you know this, but I own a few guns myself and enjoy shooting. … I haven’t been skeet shooting in a while, but I need to get better at it.”

I promptly invited him to join us at the range anytime

Second, I handed him the petition.

He looked back up from it and said “I want to again tell you how much we appreciate the way you and your organization conduct yourselves,” echoing comments we’ve heard before from the VP, Univ. Spokesman, the Provost, and a host of other administrators.

Seems our respectful yet firm approach has gotten attention but done so in a professional manner!

I think we’re being pretty effective! Great momentum heading into the 2010 Legislative Session, for sure. Keep at it everyone!

About:
SCCC at Virginia Tech (SCCC at VT) is a local chapter of the national organization, Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC), founded to organize locally and to address issues specific to the university and the state of Virginia. Membership is currently based off of the Facebook group, with over 200 members.

Michigan Coalition For Responsible Gun Owners

Michigan --(AmmoLand.com)- House Bill 5474, co-sponsored by over two dozen house members, including MCRGO Board member, Joel Sheltrown, would extend firearms preemption to college campuses.

This bill, widely viewed as a simple “clean-up” to clarify law statewide, has elicited some heated opposition. The bill would amend MCL Secs. 123.1101, 123.1102, and 123.1103 by adding “Institution of Higher Education” to the list of bodies prohibited from making their own gun law. Current law prevents any “Local unit of government” from making any laws taxing, or regulating “…the ownership, registration, purchase, sale, transfer, transportation, or possession of pistols or other firearms…”

There has been some debate in the courts regarding whether a college or university would fall within the definition of “local unit of government.” There are other Michigan statutes that do include colleges and universities in the definition of “local unit of government.” But, it has not been completely clear that colleges and universities are prevented from regulating guns under the preemption statute that has been in place since 1990.

The theory behind preemption is simply the idea that it is unfair to create a crazy quilt of patchwork gun laws across the state that could easily result in criminal prosecution of a well-meaning and otherwise law-abiding citizen simply for crossing an invisible line at the border of a county, township, or city. The thought was, and is, that a uniform statewide gun policy should be set by the Michigan legislature, based on Article 1, Section 6 of the Michigan Constitution, which states, “Every person has a right to keep and bear arms for the defense of himself and the state.”

Several arguments have been raised in favor of allowing colleges and universities the right to make their own gun laws.

1. The Michigan Constitution gives colleges the right to control their own campuses and the educational environment. This argument means that the colleges feel that their authority is stronger than the counties, townships, and cities that have been prohibited from making gun law since the current preemption statute was enacted in 1990.
2. The campus police won’t know who is a ‘good guy’ and who is a ‘bad guy’ if they encounter someone with a gun. This argument came up nearly ten years ago when “shall issue” CPLs (Concealed Pistol Licenses) were debated. The rules on disclosure when an armed citizen encounters a police officer are clear and police officers across the state continue to be trained on how to deal with armed citizens. There is nothing new about this issue and no difference between the college environment and the rest of the state in this regard.
3. College campuses are unique because of the large number of young adults and the massive alcohol consumption that results. We fear alcohol-related accidents and crimes.” This argument fails because, as anyone who have ever attended college or spent time near one, knows, most alcohol is consumed off campus in bars and private residences. Those off-campus areas are already controlled by current Michigan law, not whatever rules any given college has created. The current campus regulations are of no effect off campus. No one has been heard to argue that there is a disproportionate rate of alcohol-related accidents or crimes in off-campus areas frequented by college students.

In short, the police chiefs of a few campuses, and some administrators, are rolling out the same old anti-gun arguments that have been proved wrong by nearly a decade of success with armed citizens in Michigan. Responsible gun owners, even younger ones, are simply not a threat. In fact, according to research, even a relatively small number of armed citizens tend to serve as a deterrent to criminal activity.

The Board of Trustees at Michigan State University agrees. They voted recently to allow Michigan law to apply on the campus of MSU.

During the debate, the Michigan Constitution was cited. The Trustees decided that they did not want to have any rules on campus that might conflict with the Michigan Constitution, or create a constitutional crisis by taking a position directly opposite of Michigan law. So, far, the dire predictions of the anti-gunners have not come true.

As expected, campus life continues as before, with the exception that those of us who drive through campus while lawfully armed are no longer in danger of being prosecuted under an obscure university ordinance.

Steve is an attorney in private practice in East Lansing, www.StevenWDulan.com, and serves as an adjunct professor teaching firearms law at The Thomas M. Cooley Law School in Lansing, as well as an instructor of the legal portion of CPL classes around the state. He is a current member of the Board of Directors of MCRGO and a member of the Board of Trustees of the MCRGO Foundation and the MCRGO Foundation Firearms Civil Defense Fund.

About:
The Michigan Coalition for Responsible Gun Owners is a non-profit, non-partisan organization. Formed from just eight people in 1996, we now have thousands of members and numerous affiliated clubs across the state. We’re growing larger and more effective every day.

Our mission statement is: “Promoting safe use and ownership of firearms through education, litigation, and legislation” Visit: www.mcrgo.org

Virginia Citizens Defense League

Virginia Tech, VA --(AmmoLand.com)-I will be speaking at Virginia Tech this Monday, November 9th from 7 PM to 9 PM room 129 of McBryde Hall. I will be covering the issue of concealed carry at higher educational campuses by students, faculty and staff with CHPs.

If you can come to show support for the whole issue, that would be fantastic!

Here is the announcement by Ken Stanton of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, which includes the other events going on next week and directions to McBryde Hall: www.sccc.org.vt.edu/

Defense Education Week 2009
November 9th – 14th is Defense Education Week, hosted by Students for Concealed Carry on Campus at colleges across the country. Virginia Tech is participating with week-long events, speakers, newspaper articles, and demos pertaining to the issue, conducted by Registered Student Organization Students for Concealed Carry on Campus at Virginia Tech.

We strongly believe that the ban on Virginia campuses will be lifted in the 2010 legislative session, which will start in January. Support for the cause has continued to rise as more people see that there is no good reason to deny state-permitted individuals to carry concealed firearms while on campus, just like they do everywhere else.

Monday
What is the case for concealed carry on campus? Is it just about 4/16?
Concealed Carry Quiz, Petition to the President

7-9pm, McBryde 129 – Philip Van Cleave (President of VCDL) and SCCC at VT representatives

Philip Van Cleave is the President of the Virginia Citizen’s Defense League, a large and very active gun-rights group fighting for the citizens of Virginia. He will present a speech outlining the need and reason for concealed carry rights on Virginia’s public campuses.

After Mr. Van Cleave’s speech, a Q&A forum will be held where supporters and dissenters can inquire about the topic further.

Tuesday
How does the Second Amendment affect concealed carry on campus?
Concealed Carry Quiz, Petition to the President
Invitation to attend Second Tuesday Constitution Group at the Roanoke County Library, 6:30pm

There are no formal events on Tuesday, but the Second Tuesday Constitution Group is holding its monthly meeting at the Roanoke County Library, and they will be discussing some Second Amendment issues and ways to protect our rights.

Wednesday
What is legal and illegal, and what would change? Would all students be armed?
Concealed Carry Quiz, Petition to the President

7-8pm, McBryde 129 – Leyla Myers (Second Amendment March) and SCCC at VT representatives

Leyla Myers is the Virginia State Coordinator for the Second Amendment March, an event to be held in April of 2010 in Washington, D.C., to remind our lawmakers who their anti-gun legislation affects. She will be speaking briefly about the event and how the mission of SCCC is part of the bigger picture. Q&A will follow the event.

Thursday
Has anyone ever used his or her firearm in self-defense? Who actually carries a gun?
Concealed Carry Quiz, Petition to the President

7-9pm, McBryde 129 – Teresa McKensie (attack survivor) and SCCC at VT representatives

Teresa McKensie is a resident of Southwest Virginia and has been featured on CNN after she used her firearm to defend herself from her ex-husband. Others will join Mrs. McKensie in sharing their stories of having used their firearms in self-defense and/or reasons why they decided to carry a firearm. Emphasis will be given to the ladies of firearm ownership, as their voices are often ignored and dismissed in this issue.

Friday
What kind of training is required when carrying a firearm?
Concealed Carry Quiz, Petitions delivered to the President
Related event is on Saturday

Saturday
What kind of training is required when carrying a firearm? (cont.)
11am – 12:30pm, TBA – Jack Rumbaugh, Suarez Intl.

Jack Rumbaugh is the Virginia Staff instructor for Suarez International, a training company that offers courses around the world to teach self-defense in close-combat and armed situations. A demonstration of self-defense techniques will follow a speech from Mr. Rumbaugh on the education and training that is necessary to be able to defend yourself in an attack situation. Note that the location of this event will be off-campus as airsoft/simulated weapons may be used for demonstration purposes.

To get to McBryde Hall:
Google Maps: http://tinyurl.com/ybn6qsl • Campus map to McBryde (marked up map in PDF format): http://www.sccc.org.vt.edu/images/campus-map-McBryde.pdf • Address for GPS use: Stanger St, Blacksburg, VA, 24061

If other VCDL members would like to speak at the Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday evening events, please emailsccc@vt.edu immediately. Some of our speakers were not able to attend and we would love to have more contributors. Also, contact us at emailsccc@vt.edu if you would like to make a contribution or be added to the email listserv for the VT group.We also are still looking for a location in Blacksburg to hold the Saturday event with Suarez International!

Ken Stanton
Vice President and Founder

Students for Concealed Carry on Campus at Virginia Tech

About:
Virginia Citizens Defense League, Inc. (VCDL). VCDL is an all-volunteer, non-partisan grassroots organization dedicated to defending the human rights of all Virginians. The Right to Keep and Bear Arms is a fundamental human right.

About:
SCCC at Virginia Tech (SCCC at VT) is a local chapter of the national organization, Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC), founded to organize locally and to address issues specific to the university and the state of Virginia. Membership is currently based off of the Facebook group, with over 200 members.