Collegiate Times

Deeds center

"We've got to develop a transportation system that becomes a model for the nation," Deeds said. "That's part of my 'build it and they will come' strategy - Field of Dreams strategy. You build the transportation system that becomes the model for the rest of the nation and you build the smartest work force in the world by investing in education."

Part of that strategy is allowing more Virginians to attend institutions of higher education.

"Make higher education more affordable, make it more accessible, you're going to attract the smartest jobs in the world to Virginia," Deeds said.

At the first gubernatorial debate at the Homestead Resort, Deeds said that while he supported the second amendment, he has "become convinced" the bill to eliminate the gun show loophole should be passed.

The bill, which was killed on the floor of the state senate in February, was supported by many families of April 16 victims.

"It's more than just being convinced," Deeds said. "I listened to both sides, and I tried to come up with a series of amendments, and I got that bill out of committee for the first time."

He said meeting the families in the aftermath of the shootings motivated him to support the bill.

"Losing a child is a pretty powerful thing," Deeds said. "My office was filled with Virginia Tech families twice, many of whom have lost children, and I just felt the need to respond to that grief."

Deeds said he tried to reach a compromise between public safety concerns of the bill and second amendment rights.

"I sat down and looked at the bill and I tried to come up with common sense ways that I thought would improve the bill, but not sacrifice any public safety interest the bill sought to achieve, and also not unnecessarily interfere with second amendment rights to own or possess firearms, which are rights I happen to believe in," Deeds said.

He also reacted to the recent discovery of April 16 shooter Seung-Hui Cho's mental health records at the home of former Cook Counseling Center director Robert Miller.

Deeds said there should be a review involving the records and what impact they could have had on the shootings.

"I think everybody is entitled to an answer and I've shared my views with the governor. I think somebody ought to review what happened," Deeds said. "Reality is, there's nothing anyone can do that's going to change what happened on April 16. We certainly can learn lessons from that incident that will improve public policy in the future that will make sure something like that doesn't happen again."

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