About
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC) is a national, non-partisan, grassroots organization comprised of over 40,000 college students (~90% of membership), college faculty members, parents of college students, and concerned citizens who support the right of concealed handgun license holders to carry on college campuses for self-defense. more on the national group…
SCCC at Virginia Tech (SCCC at VT) is a local chapter of the national organization, 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.
It is important to note that we do not expect to see a large number of people carry on campus.
The movement is not about arming every student, faculty, and staff member on campus. In fact, with only 3% of Virginians holding concealed handgun permits (CHP) and a large number of students under the age of 21, it is unlikely that many would actually carry on campus. At the same time, though, many of our members simply support the choice to carry a firearm for self-defense on campus but do not wish to do so themselves. Therefore, analysis of our membership numbers should only indicate the level of support for our cause, not necessarily the number of permit holders who would exercise their right if the rule were changed.
For more information on SCCC at VT, see our Strategic Plan (click here).
Here is an excerpt from the document:
Organizational Values
The organizational values governing SCCC at VT’s development will include the following:
- Respect for Others – There are a multitude of reasons someone may oppose gun-rights, including lack of knowledge, past personal experiences, politics, family upbringing, and misinformation. Showing disrespect for these things will only close a person off from listening to a different viewpoint, so respect should be shown at all times.
- Education – Knowledge truly is power, and presenting facts and clarifying misunderstandings gives each person the opportunity to decide how they feel about the topic. In a free society, this is the best possible outcome – forming an educated opinion.
Mission-specific values of SCCC at VT include:
- We advocate concealed carry out of respect for the educational environment and how a visible firearm may be a distraction.
- We advocate concealed handgun permit (CHP) holders be allowed to carry on campus as they are 21 or older, have had training with firearms and related laws, and have had an extensive background check – the best measures available to ensure responsibility.
- We do not advocate that all college students carry firearms but rather want to see the same permit holders who carry off-campus be permitted this self-protection while on-campus.
- We do not use tragic incidents to further our cause, but rather to show the urgency in addressing the problem. Our approach is one of many that should be sought to take college campuses back from crime and return the focus to education.
- Members and supporters need not own a firearm, need not have a permit, and need not wish to carry. This group largely seeks only to gain respect for the right of those who choose to carry, not get everyone to carry.
- This group is pro-rights, not pro-gun. Discussion, pictures, videos, and links that deal solely with firearms are not permitted unless they align with the organizational mission.
- We have great respect for the work they do, but realize that the police cannot be everywhere to protect everyone and are not legally obligated to do so. Most attacks are over in seconds and police simply cannot respond that quickly.
