The American public is more aware that seconds count when faced with a violent threat. It is impossible for the police to be at all places at once, and the first line of defense in the event of an attack almost always rests with the intended victim themselves.
That is true whether in the home, in public areas, or a college campus.
The West Virginia legislature overwhelmingly approved the measure late last month, and Justice pledged to sign it within “seconds” of it reaching his desk.
The campus carry law takes effect July 1, 2024.
The governor hailed his state as a national leader in Second Amendment issues and proclaimed the legislation will protect the rights of lawful gun owners. Senate Bill 10, the Campus Self-Defense Act, put West Virginia in a group with 11 other states that allow law-abiding permit holders to carry on the campus of a state college or university.
Justice noted during the signing ceremony that the news of a catastrophic event greets Americans many times when they awaken. “Without question, when that situation happens, if we have gun-completely-free areas, to where absolutely, without any question, there is no way we can defend ourselves, then it seems those are the targets that are targeted many, many, many times.”
The governor continued by observing that these are different times, that prayer and the pledge are no longer a part of daily school life and respect for law enforcement is largely gone.
Justice asked, “Does anybody here not think, that has a brain in your head, that just because we don’t have this campus carry that people can’t bring guns on campuses?”
The other states where campus carry is legal are Arkansas, Colorado, Georgia, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Oregon, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, and Wisconsin.
Another strong Second Amendment state where carry restrictions recently changed is Texas. A federal judge dismantled the state’s age restrictions, and now young adults 19- and 20-years-old are eligible for concealed carry licenses.
Once licensed, these young people may carry concealed handguns on public university campuses and at various other public locations. It was 2016 when the state changed its policy to allow licensed gun owners to carry at public universities.
Opponents, of course, painted a dire picture of unhinged violence that would follow such a change. But in Texas and elsewhere, that cataclysmic prediction has not come to pass, and the transition has been entirely peaceful.
Still another state, Nebraska, is poised to become the 26th state to enact a constitutional carry law. Debate began on Wednesday as lawmakers will decide on a proposal to allow citizens to carry concealed handguns without a permit.
The legislator who introduced the measure, Sen. Tom Brewer, declared as debate commenced that it would not supersede present requirements for federal background checks to purchase firearms.
It would also not interfere with businesses banning weapons in their locations. But he added that “a person in Nebraska should not have to pay money to the government to exercise their constitutional right.”
The momentum across the U.S. is clearly in favor of allowing citizens to freely exercise their rights. The majority of states may shortly be constitutional carry states, an important threshold for defenders of Second Amendment liberties. What is clear is that efforts to promote these freedoms are working, and it’s people who tirelessly fight for the right to keep and bear arms who are making a profound difference.
