Pro-Gun and Anti-Gun protests engulf Kaufman Mall
Written By: David Bakhshaee, News Editor
The College Republicans, a student organization at Old Dominion University, facilitated an event on Kaufman Mall, regarding weapons policies at colleges and universities in Virginia. On Nov. 1, the Virginia Citizens Defense League and the Virginia Center for Public Safety, squared off supporting opposite sides of the debate on whether weapons should be allowed on university and campus grounds.
The debate was ignited by recent actions taken by the Board of Visitors and President Broderick to change existing weapons policies.
“I think it was a positive reflection of our students that they could, regardless of what side of the issue they were attached to, first and foremost go out and demonstrate their support,” said John R. Broderick, President of ODU. “The university is always going to serve as a marketplace for ideas.”
ODU, much like many other Virginia colleges and universities, already has a policy in place banning weapons on campus. In July, Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli released an opinion regarding university policies relating to weapons. His opinion, states that those policies do not apply to concealed-carry permit holders.
Cuccinelli said in order to ban those guns, the university would have to draft and enact a regulation, which has the full force of the law.
President Broderick and the Board of Visitors are currently taking action to do exactly that. According to an email on Oct. 31 from President Broderick to the campus community, “this fall, Old Dominion University began that process. After review from the attorney general’s office, the university’s regulation will be presented to the Board of Visitors for approval.”
Dennis J. O’Connor, Director of the Virginia Citizens Defense League representing the pro-gun side, stated his concerns for the actions being undertaken by the university.
“We have an issue with the college trying to promulgate a policy that would restrict adult students, employees, and faculty who have concealed handgun permits issued by the state of Virginia, have been found to be appropriately trained, [and have completed] a background check cleared by the state,” said O’Connor. “The school is infringing on their right to self-defense.”
Andrew L. Goddard, President of the Virginia Center for Public Safety representing the anti-gun side, stated his frustrations with the Virginia Citizens Defense League.
“The most annoying thing about this group is that they say that people with concealed carry permits should be allowed on campus because they have training, they’ve had background checks and because they have been fingerprinted. This same group is the group that is advocating for the removal of the training, fingerprints and background checks,” said Goddard.
With crime in the surrounding areas of ODU being a sensitive issue, not all students agree with the proposed regulation.
“We believe what President Broderick is drafting with the Board of Visitors is not the proper way to bring upon a safer campus,” said Michael Cogar, Chairman of the College Republicans.
“These actions do not represent a change in our rules or our philosophy to weapons on campus. The same rules we have had in place for years will still remain; only they will now be enforced by a legally sound regulation,” said Broderick.
O’Connor had a message for President Broderick regarding the weapons issue. “Our message is no guns, no funds. We’re encouraging alumni, parents of students, faculty, [and] contributors to the college, to cease all funding until peoples’ right to self-defense is respected.”
Directly across from each other on Kaufman Mall were the pro-gun group and the gun-control group. Although the two groups kept their distance from one another, both vehemently yet peacefully expressed their opinions.
“We are just coming here to show the people that there is another option rather than the narrow minded approach that this other group is pushing,” said Andrew L. Goddard, President of the Virginia Center for Public Safety. “We are not anti-gun, but we are anti-liberty with guns. Anywhere, anytime, with any gun is not our philosophy.”
Goddard, the father of Colin Goddard, was shot four times during the Virginia Tech massacre.
“We don’t want people to have to pull a gun to save their lives,” said Goddard. “You have got to think ahead and avoid situations, [it’s] much better than waiting for them to happen.”
Both groups are planning to visit several colleges and universities within the Commonwealth. A pro-gun demonstration is planned to take place at Virginia Tech on Nov. 17.
