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TOPICS: april 16
We may be a new organization on campus, but early on we declared that April 16, 2008 would be off-limits for discussing our movement or conducting any activities.
Students for Concealed Carry on Campus at Virginia Tech consists of Virginia Tech students and alumni who respect the right to carry a firearm responsibly as a means of self-defense.
One of our biggest goals is to share the facts and reasoning that brought us to support this, as many of us were against firearms previously. It takes some time to see this, so we encourage anyone who opposes concealed carry or is undecided about it to take some time researching the matter and make a well-informed decision. As such, it is imperative that our activities be respectful and educational.
To this end, it is clear that holding a protest on a day of remembrance would be quite inappropriate, and we have never considered it.
Any rumors circulating that we're doing otherwise should be addressed by this official statement. Further, most members have people they wish to remember and honor on that day, and will use the time off from classes to do so. SCCC at VT has also turned down all requests for interviews to be posted or aired on April 16, and will not take interviews on the day, either.
This includes the Collegiate Times, who asked our group for input on gun legislation to be posted in the April 16 special edition paper. We respectfully declined, and suggested that such items be printed another day.
No matter what your beliefs, your politics or your background, they should be set aside on April 16. Just one year earlier we joined together and did just that; the world saw what is amazing about Tech. We should do that once again. Whether you support SCCC's movement or not, I think you can agree.
Ken Stanton
Ph.D. student, engineering education
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I applaud the restraint of SCCC on this very solemn day. The debate over concealed weapons, both pro and con, can take a pause on April 16th and resume the day afterwards. I would only hope that Abigail Spangler and her crew from Protest Easy Guns would show the same restraint.
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Great job, Ken. This is very well put and I hope that those who are joining in on the protests read this and decide to change their opinions on protesting on the 16th. Again, great job and keep up the good work.
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I also call on our fellow hokies to keep April 16th as a day of mourning. It's a time to honor, not to dissent. It is, of course, our right to speak our mind at any time, and we are not denying that. However, as a free and thinking people, we should also keep in mind that there is a time to every purpose under heaven. And, for politics, that time is not April 16th.
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I think this is something both sides can agree on- April 16th should be a day of remembrance, not for pushing politics etc. There are 364 other days out of the year where we can talk about security issues.
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I'd just like to echo the other thoughts mentioned thus far. I am not against the idea of protesting. It is your right to protest. But it is truly disgraceful to try and take this day and use it's emotional significance to push a political agenda. Pro or con, it doesn't matter, the our Drillfield is no place for it, not on the 16th. Maybe the 15th, or even the 17th. The media will still be here, and you can get all the exposure you want. Please just don't do anything on the 16th, no matter what group you are or what cause you support. Students for Concealed Carry on Campus is setting an example that everyone should follow.
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Abby Spangler's facebook status says VT administration might not let the PEG demonstrators protest via a lie-in on 4/16. I originally thought freedom of speech would be best in this situation, but 4/16 is a day of reflection and honor... at least leave the protests to a time outside of the school-sponsored remembrance activities.
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I applaud SCCC's decision to not have any public role on April 16. One can only imagine what the mainstream media would be saying if SCCC were to hold a protest on campus that day. But for the mainstream media, it's okay for a leftist organization such as PEG to push their liberal agenda, because it's for the "good of the people". Pathetic.
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Last year on the 16th the press tried its hardest to find people to turn against Steger, to blame the police department, to leave the school, but no, when they put their cameras on Blacksburg they saw a community that stood together in its darkest hour. All these protests do is diminish that sense of community that we have created. And instead of focusing on whats importing, remember those lost, all we focus on now is the firearm debate. Its the one day when the world saw Virginia Tech, lets show them who we really are, not a bunch of protesters.
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Gun Control is the last refuge of the coward. As a Jewess in the US, may I remind everyone that America wasn't won with a registered gun? And that criminals are stopped by FIREARMS, not by talk? That is why all REAL Americans put our 2nd Amendment FIRST!
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No permits will be granted for anything happening at noon on 4/16. Also, the school only grants permits to student organizations. -- http://www.inrich.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2008-04-08-0119.html
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Not everyone is listening FYI. :( http://www.roanoke.com/news/nrv/breaking/wb/157443
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@Lisa - Some people will stop at nothing to disrupt others. So much for the gun owners being called the crazy ones anymore!
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I just hope the protesters are few and far between and they end up looks foolish, selfish, and inconsiderate.
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Thank you for your stance on this. I hope all groups with a political agenda of any sort will allow us this day to be together as a community. On April 16, "We are Virginia Tech". Our differences can wait for another day.
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I am an adult frm oout of state. I can certainly understand any desire to avoid demonstrations on April 16. However, the Brady Campaign insists that it will demonstrate without a permit, no matter what. If it were me, I would spend the day walking around with an empty holster, at least, if the Brady campaign is there. I also like the idea of a sign around the neck reading "Defenseless Target." But, I am an activist at heart (or maybe without a heart).
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Personally, I think the most direct way to send the message to the Brady campaign is to simply walk up to them and tell them that you'd appreciate it if they left. This works for both pro- and anti- gun sides - April 16th is a day of memorial and remembrance, not a day of politicking - let the various protesters you see know that.
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I applaud SCCC. Of course, they can afford to do this as their arguments are based in facts and logic. The gun grabbers have to protest on emotional days because their arguments are purely emotional.
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"The truth is that neither Brady Campaign nor ProtestEasyGuns staff will be participating in the Lie-In - it was organized by a student who lost her best friend in the shootings and will be attended by friends and family members of the victims." -Then explain to me why Brady Spokesman Peter Hamm is now the Spokesman for the Lie-in? Why isn't this student who planned it speaking up?
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If any member of SCCC is speaking out against the lie-in protest, it's because we recognize the sanctity of April 16th and do not believe that ANY group should be protesting, regardless of what their message is. Maybe if you did your homework, Respect?, you would find out that some of the members of SCCC actually lost friends on April 16th too, and we want the day to remember and honor them.
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Where is this evidence "Respect?" All I see is a bunch of people complaining about the gun-show loophole, which has nothing to do with 4/16. And the spreading of more lies... www.protesteasygunslies.com
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