Liberty University to consider concealed weapons on campus
File Photo by Jill Nance/The News & Advance
Two Liberty University students sit on the steps of DeMoss Hall last month. LU officials say they will consider whether concealed weapons permit holders will be allowed to carry guns on campus.
Liberty University will consider whether to allow concealed weapon permit holders to carry guns on campus at its next board of trustees meeting, Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr. said Thursday.
If it adopted the policy change, Liberty would become one nearly a dozen colleges nationally to allow concealed weapons on campus, according to Students for Concealed Carry on Campus.
Falwell said he decided to bring the matter before the board for discussion after members of Liberty’s chapter of SCCC requested it.
“We just have a group on campus that’s been promoting that idea, and I really don’t have a good feel for whether our community would support it or not,” Falwell said. “So I just decided to take it to the board.”
Currently the university does not allow those with concealed weapons permits to carry a gun on campus, he said.
The board of trustees has 38 members, including Falwell and his brother Jonathan. The next meeting is in early March.
The body may not make a decision on the issue, Falwell said, but will at least consider it.
“I want to make sure that we look at it long and hard before we make a decision,” he said.
“Between now and the board meeting, we’ll have RAs (resident advisers) talking to students and see what they think about it.”
Falwell also has not formed an opinion on the issue, he said.
Liberty senior Ben Neiman, leader of Liberty’s chapter of SCCC, said the group has more than 300 members, mostly students, staff and faculty.
Nationally, the organization has more than 30,000 members at hundreds of schools.
“These are people who already have their concealed carry permits, and you mingle with them in movie theaters and shopping malls around town anyways,” Neiman said. “We’re just all about our own safety. We realize that campuses are generally safe, but in the off chance that we are threatened, we want to be able to defend ourselves.”
Utah is the only state that does not allow any of its nine public universities to restrict people from carrying concealed weapons on campus.
According to the SCCC, Colorado State University and Blue Ridge Community College in Weyers Cave, Va., are the only other schools that allow concealed carry on campus.
In Virginia, where one must be at least 21 years old to apply for a concealed handgun permit, each college can decide whether to allow guns on campus.
Leading up to the meeting in March, Falwell said board members have much to consider, such as how difficult the process is to get a permit to carry.
He also hopes to ask students and faculty for their opinions, and learn more about the arguments from both sides of the issue.
“I understand all the concern about security, and that’s why I’m even going to mention it to the board,” Falwell said.
“If the board thinks that would enhance security, then it might be something they would be in favor of.”
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Reader Reactions
Thanks jero, I really didn’t want to go out a do the research (Lazy Syndrome). As for the gunfight comment. It’s not to be taken literally, it’s more of a vision of young students drawing their guns at the first sign of trouble(whether it be 5 or 50).
asforme, I’m not concerned about law abiding gun carriers. I’m concerned about a large group of YOUNG gun carriers and how they would handle a volatile situation. This isn’t Downtown Lynchburg where you would just get the heck out at the first sign of trouble. This is a crowded campus full of fellow students that they would feel compelled to protect. Would those with guns be calm and mature enough to make a sound decision? I would like to think so but I’m afraid you’d have some that would be scared to death holding a shaky gun. Also, I didn’t say that I don’t like the guys I’ve meet with permits. It’s just that some are freaking crazy and to see them with a gun is freaking scary. They’re nice guys, but crazy as h**l. I’m sure you’ve met a few like that. I’ll be honest, if I were in a mall with a crazy gunman around, I’d want my crazy friend with me. I’d get the heck out while he pulls a Clint Eastwood on him.
(OK, now work with me here guys. If we work this right we can get the school to provide free bullets and free firing range time. After all, why have a gun if you can’t shoot it.) If LU is going to allow students with concealed weapons permits to carry guns on campus, they need to make sure the students are properly trained to handle any situation. It is LU’s responsibility to see that such students attend training at least once a month (was going to say weekly but that might be pushing it) at a local firing range at no cost to the student. Also, if we. . . whoa What the H**L am I doing here? I’m FedUpWithTRBC not TolerantOfTRBC, I must be loosing it… I’m fraternizing with the enemy here… Never mind what I was saying, Jerry Jr. will do what ever he wants and will probably take out another grove of tree to make you war mongers a firing range…Wow that was a close one. 
But seriously guys, gun precaution doesn’t mean gun control. I’m not one that believes in placing laws against guns and restrictions on gun owners. I believe that there needs to be STRICT laws on the use of a firearm in the commission of a crime. Don’t penalize those that abide the law, only those that break the law. And come down on them hard!
As far as out of state licenses being valid in VA. That is up to VA to choose which states it honors those that it does not. The state does look into whether or not the other states require background checks.Please refer to sites such as:
http://www.vsp.state.va.us/Firearms.shtm
http://www.handgunlaw.us/
As far as people who can pass background checks that are not stable.
This is very true, but people who are unstable enough to do harm with guns will not seek a concealed permit. What people need to realize is that allowed permit holders to carry on campus or not is not permitting violence. Criminals will bring guns on campus no matter what decision Liberty makes.
As far as people not being comfortable sending their child to a college that allows weapons. As a former Liberty student let me say that there are plenty of students who bring them regardless. (some out of ignorance (hunter types) and some out of stupidity) You may want to speak with LUPD and ask what the numbers of reported / charges pressed is. I also went to a state school and there were MANY people who carried handguns without a care in the world.
The following is not per say to FedUpWithTRBC but too all those who say that Liberty would turn into a gun fight.
As a concealed permit holder, I would like to point out the fact that there are already people living in the Lynchburg area who carry guns. According to state law you can open carry a handgun without a permit. I have been living here for almost two years and the crime rate is much lower than when I lived up North. I don’t see any weekly shootouts or gun crimes. I am not saying they dont happen. And yes they have and will happen in our area. All that I am saying is that just because you carry a gun it does not mean your a criminal or crazy.
I open carry 99% of the time, the only reason I got it was so that I could wear it in my car and put it in my glove compartment. I only conceal when I go out of state or in neighborhoods I am not comfortable with.
Thanks
(sorry for my poor grammar and spelling) 
FedUp, Virginia recognizes permits granted by 23 states. The inter-state agreements are individualized, but typically only approved when the other state has similar requirements for eligibility as VA.
Also, as a father I as a few questions. What comfort does a weapon prohibition give you? VA Tech and Illinois State both had weapon prohibitions, but they failed to prohibit violence. Also, are you “not to crazy” about letting your child go to the movie theater, mall, park, state capitol building, or any of the other numerous locations in Virginia where people are legally carrying concealed weapons?
The people you need to be worried about are the people who do not care about whether or not carrying weapons is allowed, because they do it anyway. Anyone who goes through the hoops of getting a permit in any state has through that very act shown a respect for the rules and laws. Statistically, permit holders are the most law abiding group of people. Those who are out of control, are the ones who don’t care about the rules.
And about the permit holders you have met, likely you did not like their personality, but obviously they have not let their personality influence decisions to the point of breaking any firearms laws or they would no longer be permit holders.
Please enlighten me more jero. LU has many out of state students. Is an out of state license valid in VA? If so, do all states do proper background checks? I have met a few individuals in my life that carry a concealed weapons license, and to be honest, some of them scare the crap out of me. Just because someone can pass a background check doesn’t mean they are 100% stable. As a father, I know I wouldn’t be too crazy about my child going to a college that aloud weapons unless I knew the school did a thorough job of validating the license and conducted an interview with the student before allowing them to carry a weapon on campus or in classrooms. I’m not against responsible people having guns, I’m just saying be careful. If a situation should occur I hope you have the proper insight and training to distinguish between a perpetrator and another student reacting to protect. I would hope that any responsible gun owner would agree, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Sorry won’t bring back a life.
If a student can produce a valid license and sit down with a school administrator and prove that they are responsible, then there is no reason why they shouldn’t carry a gun if allowed by the school. Good luck guys.
Exactly what jero1987 said. The people who would be allowed to carry on campus are the same people who are already legally carrying guns around Lynchburg and the rest of Virginia. They are law abiding folks who have completed background checks. Before VA had CHPs people said it would lead to shootouts in the streets over road rage, and simple arguments would turn into murders. That hasn’t happened, CHP holders are the most law abiding demographic of people out there. There is no reason to expect it to be any different on campus.
This is for “FedUpWithTRBC”.
Please do research on VA law before posting comments. As the article clearly states Liberty is looking into letting Concealed Carry Permit Holders to carry guns. According to VA law in order to concealed carry you must complete a background check.
Thanks
asforme, I’m just saying that if a disturbance occurred and guns start pulling out of holsters, I hope those that have the guns are mature and level headed enough not to panic. It’s easy to say you would do the right thing, but you have never been in a state of mass panic. One mistake or bad decision and you could be the cause of a great tragedy. You may not know this… I’m not a big fan of TRBC, but I would hate to see innocent students die because of a mistake. JUST BE CAREFUL WHO YOU LET HAVE A GUN ON CAMPUS!!! Do Background Check!!!
What an excellent way to deal with the non-believers. It’s not quite as good as the shove it down your throat method from the late 70’s & early 80’s.
“Gun Fight at the LU Corral”
Just like there are gun fights all over Lynchburg from those of us who put on our sidearm as soon as we leave the University.
I don’t see why the community should mind. If they have a concealed weapons permit they can carry a gun around town, why not on campus too? I just hope they have a lot of cameras around the campus. When one of the little darlings goes crazy and shoots the first shot in the air it’s going to be “Gun Fight at the LU Corral”, can’t wait to see that on YouTube. Let’s hope they have enough since to do a full background check on the KIDS before they allow them to carry a gun around campus.
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