The Virginia Senate has shot down legislation to allow people with concealed-carry permits to possess a handgun on school property after normal school hours. The bill applied only to those times when no school-sponsored functions or extracurricular activities were taking place. Questions about how residents would determine which events are school-sponsored were an insurmountable hurdle to some lawmakers.
But the Senate passed another bill to exempt concealed-carry permit-holders from local ordinances that prohibit transporting a loaded shotgun or rifle in a vehicle. Supporters said it would make the law more uniform across the state.
Bill supporters argued that many community events take place at schools, so law-abiding permit-holders should be able to carry there as they do elsewhere. But Senator Chap Peterson said it would be too confusing.
“Our local drama society uses Fairfax High School. So does the Fairfax High School drama society. Again, one’s a school-sanctioned event, one is not. It’s almost impossible to make that distinction if you are a law-abiding gun-owner.”
However, bill sponsor Senator Tom Garrett said people have a right to defend themselves-even at community events, such as the domestic violence support groups held at schools.
“God created man and woman, but Smith and Wesson very well may have made them equal. I admire women who take the responsibility for defending themselves because that’s their God-given right.”
The bill was defeated on an 18-20 vote.
