From the Chronicle:
More than a year ago, Virginia Tech was at the center of a debate over whether students should be allowed to carry concealed weapons on its campus. The gun advocates lost that debate.
The debate started in 2005, after a Virginia Tech student who had a concealed-carry permit was disciplined after he brought a handgun to that campus. The Virginia Citizens Defense League, a pro-gun organization, enlisted the help of C. Todd Gilbert, a state delegate who pushed a bill that would force Virginia universities to allow guns on their campuses. The bill died in a statehouse subcommittee early last year.
Reached on Monday, Mr. Gilbert was cautious when asked about both the shooting and his bill.
“It’s tragic, and I’m certainly not trying to make any political points out of today,” he said. “But the events make the point that there isn’t any gun law or rule that will stop a committed killer from carrying out his plan. The only way to stop someone with that kind of intent is with an equal amount of force.”
He believes that if Virginia Tech’s policies had not prevented students from legally bringing guns to class, armed students might have been in a position to stop the carnage.
He said he wasn’t sure whether he would present his bill to the Virginia General Assembly again. “I don’t know if I’ll bring this up. I don’t want to go there today, with everything being so raw.”