In the wake of the Virginia Tech massacre, many conservatives have suggested that the shooting spree highlights the need for more guns in schools. Specifically, there has been a call by some on the right for “an immediate end” to the Gun Free School Zones Act, which prohibits the possession of a firearm in a school zone.
Michelle Malkin: “Enough is enough, indeed. Enough of intellectual disarmament. Enough of physical disarmament. You want a safer campus? It begins with renewing a culture of self-defense — mind, spirit and body. It begins with two words: Fight back.“
Earlier this week, Fox News’ John Gibson and Andrew Napolitano suggested that Virginia had dropped the ball by not allowing students to carry guns on campus:
GIBSON: So, theoretically, in this lecture hall where all 31 were killed, there could have been someone with a carry permit carrying their gun to shoot the shooter?
NAPOLITANO: No, because the same people that just dropped the ball, as Bo just described, that allowed 32 additional people to die, also said: “Virginia lets you carry a gun at a gas station or a bank or a stadium, but not on a college campus, where you may protect kids.”
At today’s White House press briefing, White House spokeswoman Dana Perino temporarily quieted the critics, reminding them, “As governor [of Texas], he supported weapons-free school zones.” Watch it:
In the 2000 presidential debates, Bush said, “[Gore] says we ought to have gun-free schools. Everybody believes that. I’m sure every state in the union’s got them. You can’t carry a gun into a school.”
Transcript:
QUESTION: What does the president think of the gun control rule which prohibited guns on the campus of Virginia Tech?
PERINO: I haven’t spoken to him about that specifically. I do know, as governor, he supported weapons-free school zones.
QUESTION: He supported…
PERINO: When he was governor of Texas, yes.
QUESTION: And he thinks that this was effective at Virginia Tech?
PERINO: I’m not going to comment about that.
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