Ken Cuccinelli On George Mason University: 'I Think They're Crazy' On Gun Ban

WASHINGTON -- Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli assuaged a gathering of gun-rights activists at George Mason University, skewering the school's campus gun plan which his office had to defend before the Virginia Supreme Court.

Speaking at the Virginia Citizens Defense League's Thursday night meeting at a Fairfax County district government center in Annandale, Patch reports Cuccinelli said that as attorney general, he didn't want to "undercut" his client "by going out and saying something like, 'You're idiots for doing this."

The Virginia Supreme Court upheld GMU's campus policy in a January ruling.

Cuccinelli said now that the case, DiGiacinto v. Rector and Visitors of George Mason University, is over, he's free to criticize it: "The policy they've undertaken doesn't achieve their goals for campus safety."

In that case, a gun owner, Rudolph DiGiacinto, challenged GMU's ban on guns in campus buildings and sports and entertainment venues. He was not a student, but uses the campus library and other university facilities.

Members of the Virginia Citizens Defense League had said the attorney general went against his word when he spoke before the group as a candidate in 2008. As AmmoLand.com wrote in a preview of the event:

The Attorney General will be speaking about his support for the GMU gun ban, when he originally told VCDL members, as a candidate for Attorney General, that the ban wasn't valid.

The VCDL protested at George Mason University on Nov. 9 and followed up with a similar protest at Virginia Tech University on Thursday.

According to Patch:

When Cuccinelli had met with the VCDL three years ago, he'd told the group the General Assembly oversaw all gun control decisions. "I made a legal mistake when I spoke to you three years ago," Cuccinelli said. "I thought any agency in Virginia went through the General Assembly for gun laws," he said. In fact, that only applies to local governments, not to state agencies.

Cuccinelli berated Virginia's public universities for lobbying themselves through the General Assembly on an abbreviated legislative process. "Gee, it's so inconvenient to participate in a democracy, especially for those in the ivory towers," he said.

"They have their own special regulatory process, totally abbreviated," he said. "They shouldn't be treated any differently than any other state agency."

RELATED VIDEO: Ken Cuccinelli In 2008, Speaking To Virginia Civil Defense League

Comments

[Jerry Bourbon]

05:45 PM on 11/24/2011

V-Tech's gun ban worked out really well, didn't it? On the other hand, Appalachian State's LACK of a gun ban didn't work out well at all...for the criminal.

[Iconcoclast]

11:34 PM on 11/23/2011

People certainly get upset over the notion of legal concealed carry on campus. But it is clear that on my university of 50,000 students and staff covering 643 urban acres with absolutely no controlled access at all there are a number of firearms being carried. Just 4 years ago a woman was shot by a stalker on campus--and the stalker didn't bother to pick up a concealed pistol permit.

In other words, guns are already on campus.

[Jerry Bourbon]

05:46 PM on 11/24/2011

Sir, I am shocked! Are you implying that criminals don't respect "gun free zones"???? Oh, the humanity!

[Iconcoclast]

01:10 PM on 11/25/2011

Clearly we need another law...maybe two! Or maybe just ban private possession of firearms.

Is it just me or are gun controllers who wish to ban private ownership of firearms like the proverbial drunk looking for his keys under a streetlamp? "I know I didn't drop them here, but this is the only place where I can see" kind of thinking characterizes the notion that banning ownership of guns by law abiding citizens will eliminate criminal gun ownership.

[hagagaga]

04:23 PM on 11/22/2011

As GMU is a public university, they are NOT allowed to infringe on the Constitutional rights of those who are on campus. If they were a private university, it would be legal, although still idiotic, to ban firearms.

[Rooster Coburn]

04:39 PM on 11/22/2011

Right! As the saying goes, "A shoot-out is preferable to a bloodbath."

[ScorpioTop]

12:05 AM on 11/24/2011

Whats idiotic is that 30,000 Americans are killed by gun use yearly. The 2nd states "a well regulated militia" not carrying around a gun like you would a text book.

[novaguy1968]

10:14 PM on 11/20/2011

What an embarrassment.

[hagagaga]

04:21 PM on 11/22/2011

Yes, he's an embarrassment, but he's right on this.

[Mark Fowler 1911]

10:39 AM on 11/20/2011

They should at bare minimum allow it in cars on campus. If I go to any campus in my state to watch a sporting event I must be unable to protect my self before or after enjoying the event. Id be ok with that much.

[Grumpy Man]

03:18 PM on 11/20/2011

I hate leaving my gun in my vehicle where it could more easily be stolen and subsequently used by a criminal. I prefer to keep it with me where it would be much harder for it to fall into the hands of a nefarious person.

Just my 2¢.

[OdinsEye]

03:54 PM on 11/20/2011

When I am off duty I am generally allowed to carry anywhere a civilian with a concealed carry permit can carry. For those few times instances when I cannot, I have a small lockbox installed in the car. To get my firearm they will have to steal the entire vehicle.

[exile]

06:09 PM on 11/19/2011

paid for by the NRA
to increase gun sales

[Grumpy Man]

03:16 PM on 11/20/2011

Interesting position you've put forth.

Of course such a position would have to start with someone assuming there are citizens out there who would get a concealed carry license and purchase a handgun but haven't done so yet because they can't legally carry on campus. If only it were allowed on campus they'd join the ranks of permitted persons and become an armed citizen. If only...

Nope, I can't it. It sounds to me like a rather silly presumption. Logic would seem to dictate that those who are inclined to get a permit (typically 2-3% of the population in those states where there are "shall" issue laws) already have one. I seriously doubt that anyone is on the fence with their decision to get a permit or not get a permit as they await the potential passage of this proposed legislation. I suppose it might be true for a few college professors or university employees but I'd have to think those potential buys represent a significantly unimportant number of potential gun buyers.

Your premise would be similar to accusing the ACLU of promoting free speech so as to help bolster the sales of computers, ink pens, paper, etc...

Try harder. This one fails the sniff test.

[hagagaga]

04:22 PM on 11/22/2011

The Brady Campaign is doing more to increase firearm sales than the NRA.

[BILL1234]

07:32 PM on 11/18/2011

OK! The way around this rule is to drink my 5th then enter???

[zenbamboo]

07:25 PM on 11/18/2011

Statistics from the FBI’s Annual Uniform Crime Report show that states that widely allow concealed carry have lower crime rates than those that do not. Just something to ponder. Not that I like Cuccinelli.

[Rachel Styles]

06:51 PM on 11/18/2011

A gun with a silencer in the right hands can be very deadly. If you want to know how a silencer reduces the gun sound, this article gives a great explanation.

http://explainlikeakid.blogspot.com/2011/10/how-silencer-works.html

[David Carson]

11:43 AM on 11/19/2011

what do silencers have to do with this debate

[OdinsEye]

03:04 PM on 11/20/2011

Your post as absolutely nothing to do with the article. Flagged for being off topic. Moderators, please review.

[M Cubed]

06:03 PM on 11/18/2011

Hey Mr. Attorney General, may I carry my pistol into your office? Why Not? Why the double standard?

[zenbamboo]

06:58 PM on 11/18/2011

Actually, in Virginia there is a day each year you can openly carry a handgun in to the state capital building and meet with your delegate and senator. I don't know when that is though.

[M Cubed]

07:17 PM on 11/18/2011

Remind me to stay away that day.

[exile]

06:10 PM on 11/19/2011

i'm guessing
it's april fools day

[hagagaga]

04:25 PM on 11/22/2011

If I was AG, I'd allow you to do so. Granted, I'd have one on my desk so that if it looked like you were reaching for a weapon, I'd be able to access one faster, but...

[UVA1983]

05:57 PM on 11/18/2011

How or why Virginians ever elected this intellectual light-weight, I will never understand.With all the great law schools and universities in Virginia how is it that the top elected officials in the state went to barely accredited far right Christian schools? Are there no normal smart folks in the state who want to run for these positions or is Virginia just another state filled with lots of red state know-nothings?

[Trishann]

07:46 PM on 11/18/2011

No our state is filled with GOP know-it-alls and anyone who disagrees with them is considered the spawn of Satan.

[notsopc]

01:05 AM on 11/19/2011

True that. The Cooch has a reputation as a lousy lawyer. Can't imagine why.

[Conlaw Bloganon]

09:16 AM on 11/22/2011

Maybe they just realize, as the CDC does, that gun control has no favorable effect on public safety.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5214a2.htm

Gun control is not about public safety. Gun control is about CONTROL.

[sabela]

05:53 PM on 11/18/2011

You need a gun at a campus library in case the books attack? Someone talks too loud?

[M Cubed]

06:11 PM on 11/18/2011

Books are pretty docile. I bet if you stroked their spine, they would fall right to sleep.

[sabela]

06:26 PM on 11/18/2011

They also like words so you could also speak softly to them.

[Grumpy Man]

09:57 AM on 11/19/2011

You're right in that it's very unlikely that someone might need to defensively use a gun while in the library but you're only looking at one part of that person's day.

Let's say the person is a woman who recently left an abusive relationship. She has a restraining order on her ex but we all know that a little piece of paper does virtually nothing to stop someone who intends to act violently. She wants to do some research on divorce and relationship violence. She's already obtained a concealed carry permit and an appropriate handgun. She even took an extra class on armed defensive techniques.

She leaves her house, visits her personally owned small business (in a not-so-good part of town) and picks up the cash from the day before. She leaves the business to make a deposit at the local bank. After leaving the bank she stops at a local "Stop-n-Rob" store to buy a mocha energy drink.

Next it's off to the library. While at the library she must either continue to carry her handgun or leave it in her vehicle where it is more easily stolen.

Upon leaving the library she has to attend a court ordered mediation program with her abusive estranged mate.

Still feel like it's silly to have a gun with her?

[sabela]

02:45 PM on 11/19/2011

I would first wonder how both the husband and the wife get onto a campus library in the first place but under those circumstances, no, not silly. But Ken and the person who brought the suit just like to carry guns. The gentleman didn't state he was being stalked or was in danger. I am willing to bet if the woman who for whatever reason needed to be at that library could explain her circumstances and security and the ptb's would probaby allow her to carry the gun.

[exile]

06:12 PM on 11/19/2011

who leaves cash from the day before overnight at the massage parlor

[gandalf7531]

05:46 PM on 11/18/2011

I despise Cuccinelli to the depths of my soul.

He's a fanatically dangerous person and is a total embarrassment as our Attorney General, as he always puts his own agenda ahead of the people of the Commonwealth.

[LoveTheGame]

06:46 PM on 11/18/2011

And wastes a helluva lot of taxpayer dollars doing it. I heard he is contemplating a run for governor - scary. I lived in Virginia not too long ago, and the state is schizophrenic. The greater Metro DC-VA population is generally well-educated, sophisticated, and progressive in their politics; downstate and southside, not so much. Maybe VA needs to be divided into 2 states, like N. and S. Carolina.

[Conlaw Bloganon]

09:20 AM on 11/22/2011

Why? Because he knows the facts? The FACT is that gun control laws have no favorable effect on crime. Even the CDC has come to terms with this.
http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/rr5214a2.htm

Moreover, the police have no obligation to protect you, and they hardly have any capability to do so anyway, since there are fewer than 3 police officers for every 1,000 US citizens.
http://www.nytimes.com/2005/06/28/politics/28scotus.html

In EVERY POSSIBLE JURISDICTION, when people are allowed to defend themselves, CRIME GOES DOWN. That includes churches, restaurants, and even bars. Soon it will include schools.
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/news/2011/aug/14/tdmain01-gun-crime-drops-at-virginia-bars-and-rest-ar-1237278/

[VA Mom]

05:42 PM on 11/18/2011

Kooky Cooch (as we call him) is living in the dark ages. He even wants nude sculptures covered. *shakes head* No Kooky, we don't all want to be carrying guns to school, the grocery store, walking the dog. Sorry, I'm not that fearful and the day I'm afraid to walk anywhere without a gun, that is the day I leave this country. That attitude of fear is no way to live.

[kicksave7]

05:30 PM on 11/18/2011

Having had three kids that attended GMU, I'm familiar with this group...it should be noted that they are small group out of a large student population and that a large majority of the student body is very much opposed (as are their parents) to having students toting guns on the campus. If this policy was ever put into policy, GMU would certainly lose out of state students (and the out of state tuition $$$) and other endowments. I can't think of another more careless and stupid idea than allowing 18-22 yr. old students to have guns in the dorms, classes and athletic events.

[Grumpy Man]

10:00 AM on 11/19/2011

No one is advocating that 18-20 year old students should be armed. One must be twenty-one to apply for a concealed carry permit. Typically only about 2-3% of a given population apply.

It's been happening at a few other schools around the nation for several years. They didn't lose students or endowments and no problems have been reported whatsoever.

The sky is not falling.

[kicksave7]

02:04 PM on 11/19/2011

Really? What schools? I wouldn't want my kids at a school where this is permitted and attending alcohol fueled parties where there are 21 yr. olds with guns. And who's to say an 18, 19 or 20 yr. old wouldn't get a hold of a gun owned by a 21 yr. old and do something a la VA Tech or Columbine.

[OCerInTN]

06:38 PM on 11/22/2011

Anyone 18 or older, not other wise prohibited from owning one, may carry a firearm openly in VA without a license.