Once again, honest people denied means of defense

because a bunch of jerks think criminals with murder in mind will obey the law.

HB 1572, which would have allowed handguns on college campuses, died in subcommittee.

A bill that would have given college students and employees the right to carry handguns on campus died with nary a shot being fired in the General Assembly.

House Bill 1572 didn't get through the House Committee on Militia, Police and Public Safety. It died Monday in the subcommittee stage, the first of several hurdles bills must overcome before becoming laws.

The bill was proposed by Del. Todd Gilbert, R-Shenandoah County, on behalf of the Virginia Citizens Defense League. Gilbert was unavailable Monday and spokesman Gary Frink would not comment on the bill's defeat other than to say the issue was dead for this General Assembly session.

Virginia Tech spokesman Larry Hincker was happy to hear the bill was defeated. "I'm sure the university community is appreciative of the General Assembly's actions because this will help parents, students, faculty and visitors feel safe on our campus."

Note the 'feel safe' part. Not BE safe, but 'feel' safe. Because honest people who carry are disarmed.

This was a horrible crime, committed by someone who knew there would be no armed opposition on the campus. Would it have stopped him if he had known that the moment he began shooting someone must might pull a sidearm and stop him? We don't know. We do know that he'd have been facing a fight instead of a school full of victims.

And the usual suspects are screaming to ban this and ban that and ban everything. Of course.

Dammit.