Students for Concealed Carry on Campus at Virginia Tech

Tags: Uncategorized // Add Comment »

Tags: Uncategorized // 3 Comments »

SCCC at VT is making a lot of plans for the 2009-10 academic year, and hopes members and supporters will join us in the activities to come.  As well, we welcome opposition to join in and engage, discuss, and debate their concerns at any time.

The major objective for this year is to see a bill through to passage in the 2010 Virginia Legislative Session. To that end, we are planning educational events on the local and national level, trips to Richmond to meet with legislators, and meetings and social events to discuss the issues. An additional focus for this year is to help new members learn the facts behind concealed carry on campus to give them the tools to discuss their beliefs with peers.

Please join either the Facebook Fan Page or the email listserv to keep in touch with what’s going on! Major event notices will also be posted here, but this website will be updated less frequently than the Fan Page and listserv.

We look forward to seeing you!

Tags: Uncategorized // Add Comment »

In the concealed carry debate going on here at Virginia Tech, as well as nationwide, there are a few issues. One is that some are still looking for people to blame. When I lost a friend to a car accident a few years ago, I didn’t blame Mack trucks or the truck dealership. Similarly, we should not blame gun manufacturers or dealers for the events at VT or NIU, as both entities followed the laws exactly as they should have. Further, laws regarding mental health and gun purchases have been tightened since April, much to the approval of both sides of the debate. So many people seem upset that TGSCOM, Inc. sold a firearm to the VT shooter. This doesn’t make much sense considering that they didn’t even run the background check, the local gun store did before passing ownership to Cho; TGSCOM simply made a sale like any other.

The biggest issue with the misplaced blame is that it raises concern in those who know the stages of grief.

If, over a year later, many people are still in the “anger” stage of grief and are looking to place blame, maybe the community is not recovering as well as is believed. I know otherwise, as I am a deeply engaged member of the VT community, and am healing from my loss, too. Jeremy and I were close like brothers, and his father told me that I am family; my pain feels much the same as his. I’ve watched my own recovery and keep a close eye on those around me, and don’t believe that this is very representative of how the VT community is doing.

The other issue is that not enough people are getting involved. It seems that unless someone is directly upset by something, they tend to not put much effort into considering it. If the controversy of Mr. Thompson’s speech is an aide to engaging more people into the debate, then so be it. It was not the intention, but perhaps it can be become a positive. Educational institutions are a place for learning, not a place where students should fear for their lives. Experts on these incidents agree: attackers choose unarmed victims in places like schools, churches, and malls. Unfortunately, it looks that “If you want peace, prepare for war” applies here, and the only way to take back our learning institutions from these heinous crimes is to send a message to would-be criminals:

“You will not find defenseless victims here; we will defend ourselves and protect our beloved campus.”

I don’t like carrying a firearm for protection any more than I like having an extinguisher in case of fire, but if that’s what it takes to bring peace of mind, then I will take the responsibility.

In closing, I simply ask that you wait until you hear the speech tonight before you pass judgment. There is clearly a reason that Mr. Thompson was so persistent about coming here to speak, paid his entire bill to do so, and is forgoing profits on sales for the next two weeks. Give him a chance to speak, just as you would want if you were on the other end of such emotions. University spokesman Larry Hincker is trying to get everyone worked up to support his opposition to self-defense on campus; stand up and show him that you think for yourself. Mr. Thompson’s speech will inevitably be aired on many news outlets and online, so please tune in.

Regards,

Ken Stanton

VT Campus Leader, Students for Concealed Carry on Campus

Tags: Uncategorized // 1 Comment »

The week of April 21-25 is a vocal week for SCCC nationwide. With the Empty Holster Protest being held at over 300 campuses and with over 3,000 participants, it is a week to make an all-important but simple statement:

We do not approve of our college, university, and/or state legislature taking away our right to self-defense.

As well, we here at VT believe that education is key to our mission, and hence are hosting Firearms Education Week. Most people only think of guns as weapons of crime, but with an estimated 1-2 MILLION cases of defensive gun use every year, it is clear that they serve a higher purpose, too.

Finally, input from others is needed to show the status and concerns of related parties like police, gun store owners, and the people of the university.

Putting all of this together, we have the events of the week:

Collegiate Times Article

All week:

• Empty Holster Protest: Participants go about their daily lives around campus wearing empty holsters. They are also asked to engage with and provide more information to others who inquire about the holster, as part of Firearms Education Week. No permit is required, and participants do not have to have the desire to carry, just respect the right of those who choose to. Facebook event (click here)
  
• Firearms Education Week: Encompasses all activities of the week, with the goal of sharing with others the facts and reasoning that supporters have for this cause. Many of us were opposing before, but have since learned more about concealed carry and now support it. Facebook event (click here)
  

Wednesday, April 23rd:

• Meeting with VT Police Chief Flinchum (private): As concealed carry on campus inevitably involves the fine officers that serve and protect our campus, we are going to consult with the chief on how this would affect them and their jobs. This is for our information, too, to see if there are concerns we have not addressed.

Thursday, April 24th:

• Eric Thompson, guest speaker – 7pm, Whittemore 300: As owner of TGSCOM, Inc., the company that made sales to both the VT and NIU attackers, Eric found a special motivation to get involved: “I also believe I now have a special responsibility to do all I can to try and prevent further loss of life.” Please note that seating is very limited, so please arrive early (doors open 6:45pm). For more on the company and Eric’s statements about the tragedies, please see http://www.tgscom.com/
  

Friday, April 25th:

• VT Community Survey and Quiz: To take input from the VT community, SCCC at VT is opening a survey and quiz on the topic of concealed carry on campus. Conducted via survey.vt.edu, the quiz will cover basic facts of concealed carry on campus, and the survey will take input on opinions on the topic. The results will be reported as quiz results, survey results, and correlation between the two. Also, we are seeking a neutral co-host for this to ensure objectivity. The survey will open on Friday, April 25th at 8am, and close on Sunday, April 27th at midnight.

Tags: Events // 3 Comments »