Hat-tipping from the same Kos diary as Lowell, current "I wish he was running for President" draft darling of the GOP and former GOP Senator Fred Thompson weighs in on who he blames for the Virginia Tech tragedy check out this article from:One of the things that's got to be going through a lot of peoples' minds now is how one man with two handguns, that he had to reload time and time again, could go from classroom to classroom on the Virginia Tech campus without being stopped. Much of the answer can be found in policies put in place by the university itself....Now, I personally think that the time for grieving is starting to give way to the time for figuring out how to prevent this problem from occurring again. But only if we're really looking for constructive answers -- using this tragedy for cheap political gain would be a different story.Virginia Tech administrators overrode Virginia state law and threatened to expel or fire anybody who brings a weapon onto campus.
So, back to Thompson's article. Is Virginia Tech's gun-free zone really to blame? Should colleges instead authorize 18-year-olds to carry and conceal guns in class, at football games, at fraternity parties, and anywhere else? Sound like a place where you'd like to send your son or daughter to college? Of course not, and as Lowell post shows, this type of gun-free policy is so ubiquitous at universities (here is UVa's similar policy) that Thompson's suggestion is almost laughable.
So, perhaps this is just some NRA-pandering for a soon-to-be presidential candidate. And if that's the case, what a horribly insensitive way to do that.
(UPDATE: Chris diaried on how insensitive the timing of Thompson's remarks here.)
Tennessee law and University policy prohibit anyone other than Vanderbilt police officers and officers of Metropolitan Nashville Police Department from carrying weapons on campus. Students who plan to use weapons in legal recreational activities may store them at the Police Department for safekeeping. This safekeeping service is provided for residential students.Weapons can be stored or retrieved 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
You will need to have both your university ID and your drivers license to store a gun with VUPD. A receipt will be issued to you once your weapon is put into storage. You will need the above and your receipt in order to retrieve your weapon.
When retrieving you weapon, you will need to call the department (322-2745) and make an appointment at least four (4) hours prior to your picking up the weapon.
The weapon must be unloaded and properly secured before returning to campus.
You should bring the unloaded weapon to the lobby of VUPD headquarters. If after normal business hours, pick up the phone in the lobby and contact the dispatcher (322-2745). They will make arrangements to have an officer meet with you.
We do not store ammunition. In addition it is a violation of university policy to store ammunition on campus. Ammunition should be safely disposed of before coming on campus.
Vanderbilt Police Department
For all the talk about Democrats and Hollywood, it seems the Republican Party is the one that's always running some actor for office.
As for the NRA--that group does nothing but give us responsible gun-owners a bad name. Fred Thompson is way over the hill to be running. His health is bad and he looks twenty years older than he did two years ago. I'm gonna be voting Democrat anyway, but they're sure making it easy to make a choice.
I think the Democrats have several very good candidates. If the Republicans wish to remain viable, they need to come up with some candidates worth voting for. Thompson does nothing but muddy the water and his thoughts on VA Tech are just plain stupid. Stay on TV, Fred. You'll do a lot less damage there.
I must admit I'm kind of at a loss as to why this story wasn't picked up on two weeks ago, but better late than never.
He wants to use the Tech tragedy to promote his agenda and blame liberals, and this joke of a politician is their best hope? Pathetic.