Concealed weapons bill passes in Virginia: "The House of Delegates on Thursday passed a bill to allow people with a concealed weapons permit to bring a hidden handgun into a restaurant if they do not drink. The measure sponsored by Sen. Emmett W. Hanger, R-Mount Solon, won House approval on a 62-36 vote and now goes to the desk of Gov. Timothy M. Kaine. Delegates in both parties said they expect Kaine to veto it. A spokesman for the governor said he would have to review the bill's details before deciding whether to sign it. Gun-rights advocates have sought the bill for years. It passed the Senate by a 24-15 vote last week, so neither chamber passed the measure by a veto-proof two-thirds margin. Virginia has nearly 150,000 residents who hold concealed-carry permits, said Del. C. Todd Gilbert, R-Woodstock, who spoke for the bill and said those who hold concealed-weapons permits "are among the most law-abiding citizens in Virginia."


UNL Bans Toy Guns After Classroom Scare: "A long University of Nebraska-Lincoln tradition came to an abrupt end this week after a student brought a Nerf gun into a classroom. University officials said on Thursday that the game "assassin" has been banned on campus, along with all toy guns. In the game, players use a Nerf gun to hunt down another player. When it spilled into a classroom on Wednesday, people got nervous. "All of a sudden, I saw five or six officers rush into the room," said student Arthur Scott. Scott was the in class at Oldfather Hall when, he said, a student had the toy gun on his desk. Another student became concerned and text messaged a friend, who called police. "They said put the gun down. They started yelling then," Scott said. UNL police said they had to treat the situation like it was a real weapon because some guns are now painted to look like toys. Fliers were put up in residence halls announcing the ban. Vice Chancellor Juan Franco said they're not overreacting. "If you had asked me that 10 years ago, I would have said yes, but under the current circumstances, with everybody very sensitive to what's been happening on campuses, I think we need to be safe," Franco said. The game had become an annual event at Neighardt Hall. The honors students housed there say it was a fun way to get to know other students".


We need students, teachers better-armed: "Another tragic, senseless shooting, this time at Northern Illinois University, has again brought the gun issue to the forefront. However, have you ever thoughtfully considered just how we got to where we are regarding the ownership of firearms? Our nation was founded and evolved as a uniquely free society during the same time that modern firearms were invented and became readily available due to the Industrial Revolution. Combine those two events with our founding fathers' genuine fear of tyrannical government along with a need for protection on a dangerous frontier and you have the answer -- a modern society with an estimated 250 million guns. These recent shooting tragedies have renewed an irresponsible call by some to further restrict or repeal the Second Amendment. However, vicious criminals are freed every day because of "technical violations" by authorities of the Fourth Amendment (prohibiting illegal searches), Fifth (self-incrimination) and Sixth (right to an attorney). As a result, thousands of citizens are later murdered, raped or assaulted. We as a nation hold those three amendments so sacred that we are willing to pay that price. The Second Amendment should be no less sacred".