Accurate comic by Branco on Gun Free Zones

Tennessee legislature makes major moves to get rid of gun-free zones at public universities and businesses

By overwhelming votes, the Tennessee legislature passed two bills that get rid of gun-free zones at public universities and provides immunity to businesses if they don't post ban.  CPRC's John Lott testified on both bills when they started in the state Senate Judiciary Committee.

The gun-free zones at public universities allows "full-time employees of state public colleges or universities to carry a handgun while on property owned, operated, or used by the employing college or university if the employee has a valid Tennessee handgun carry permit."  This bill passed by a 28 to 5 vote in the state Senate and 69 to 24 in the state House.  Republican Gov. Bill Haslam might veto the bill because it didn't give the institutions the power to opt out, but with a 85 to 15 percent vote in the Senate and a 74 to 26 percent in the House, there are more than enough votes to over ride a veto.  It was the Senate version of the bill that was passed.

The other bill "provides immunity to the business/entity if the business doesn't post" signs banning permitted concealed handguns.  This bill passed by a 26 to 4 vote in the state Senate and by 77 to 12 in the state House.  The governor hasn't spoken out on this bill, but even if he were to veto it, it looks as if it would be easy to override the veto.

Taken together these two bills will make a major difference in eliminating gun-free zones in the state.  Tennessee will be the 13th state that is ending gun-free zones on college campuses.  The immunity bill appears to be the first one in the country.

A note on "Bomb-free zones" and why they aren't quite the same as gun-free zones

Not really the same thing as the gun-free zone issue (gun-free zones actually make things safer for the killers), but it still shows the weakness in these bans.

New piece in Investor's Business Daily: In Wake Of The Shooting, Should The Capitol Remain Gun-Free?

I have a new piece with Nicole Goeser at Investor's Business Daily on the Capitol shooting on Monday:

Like so many mass public shootings, the gunman who attacked the U.S. Capitol on Monday first tried shooting a uniformed officer.  Fortunately, the lone gunman was quickly subdued and no one other than the attacker was seriously injured. But it raises questions of what would have happened with a more coordinated terrorist attack. 

With terror attacks occurring regularly around the world, we can’t ignore the fact that the Capitol would provide a primary target for terrorists.  Indeed, an FBI informant foiled such an attack in January. 

Police are crucial – probably the single most important factor in reducing crime. But uniformed police have a tough job stopping terrorists since they are often the first targets in any attack. 

In late 2013, Ron Noble, who at the time was secretary-general of Interpol, Europe’s version of the FBI, noted two means of protecting people from mass shootings: 

“One is to say we want an armed citizenry; you can see the reason for that. Another is to say the enclaves (should be) so secure that in order to get into the soft target, you’re going to have to pass through extraordinary security.” 

But with terrorists planning these attacks many months or even years in advance, Noble warned that his experience taught him it was virtually impossible to stop killers from getting weapons. 

The federal government might learn something by looking at the states that allow some form of permitted handgun carry within their legislative public areas.  At least 16 allow permitted carry in their capitols: Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming.  Even more allow guns to be carried in legislative areas. 

The problem with gun-free zones that ban law-abiding civilians from carrying is that they don’t exactly scare off criminals. In fact, they have just the opposite effect. Disarming everyone, including legislators or staffers on their way to and from the buildings, leaves them easy targets for criminals and terrorists. 

Even some Republicans, such as Rep. Mo Brooks, R-Ala., support keeping the Capitol gun-free, “given the risks that are associated with (guns) and that we already have security with the Capitol Police.” 

The U.S. has more than 13 million handgun permit holders — 5.6% of the 21-and-over population.  In the vast majority of states, people are likely to be carrying a gun right next to you in a mall, a restaurant or a movie theater.
With many state legislators working to eliminate gun-free zones throughout their states, allowing guns in legislative buildings lets legislators show they really believe in the benefits of concealed carry. 

Kentucky allows permitted concealed carry in legislative areas, including the capitol. If you attend a legislative meeting, you must carry your gun openly, though no permit is required. 

In Texas, permit holders are allowed to get through capitol security much faster.  They can skip the metal detector, since they’ve already passed a criminal background check. After a while, lobbyists and journalists figured this out and got their own handgun carry permits. 

The same concerns about concealed carry in state capitols were raised when states adopted right-to-carry laws. But permit holders have been extremely law-abiding. Nationwide, permits are revoked for firearms-related violations at thousandths or tens of thousandths of 1%. 

Indeed, it’s hard to think of any other group in the country that’s anywhere near as law-abiding. Police are very rarely convicted of firearm violations, but they’re convicted six times more often than permit holders. 

Those who want to keep bans on civilians carrying guns in legislative areas worry that they’ll accidentally fire their guns. Yet despite all the experience in other states with carrying guns at legislative public areas and capitols, we know of just one accidental discharge — in Kentucky in January 2014 and in which no one was harmed. 

In addition, since at least 1950, all but three American public mass shootings have taken place where civilians are banned from carrying guns. In Europe, every mass shooting has occurred in a gun-free zone. 

Those advocating gun-free zones claim permit holders will accidentally shoot bystanders or that arriving police will shoot the permit holders. Concealed carry holders have stopped shootings in malls, churches, schools, universities and busy downtowns many times, and not once have the permit holders been shot a bystander. Nor have the police ever accidentally shot a permit holder. 

Gun-free zones are magnets for murderers. Even the most ardent gun-control advocate would never put “Gun-Free Zone” signs on his home. Let’s stop putting them elsewhere, including the U.S. Capitol. 

* Goeser and Lott are with the Crime Prevention Research Center.  Lott is also the author of “More Guns, Less Crime.”

OP-ED IN THE TENNESSEAN: "Allowing guns at Legislative Plaza would increase safety"

Nikki Goeser & I had an op-ed featured in The Tennessean (March 15, 2016)

Democrats sure seem worried that there will soon be no safe place left for them in Nashville. The Legislative Plaza and the War Memorial Building, where state legislators have their offices, were caught up in a debate last month about taking down its “gun-free zone” signs. 

The problem with gun-free zones, which ban law-abiding civilians from carrying, is that they don’t exactly scare off criminals. In fact, they have just the opposite effect. Disarming everyone, including legislators or staffers, on their way to and from the buildings leaves them easy targets to criminals and terrorists.

The rest of the op-ed is available here.

Even DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier says Civilians Should Shoot Mass Public Shooters "Before Police Can Get There"

DC Police Chief Cathy Lanier on 60 Minutes about active shooters --   "If you're in a position to try to take the gunman out, it's the best option for saving lives before police can get there."  Yet, according to Emily Miller, the chief investigative reporter for Fox News Channel 5 in DC, DC has only granted 45 concealed handgun permits.

New "Mothers Against Gun-Free Zones" Citing CPRC Research

Christy Stutzman, the mom of a high schooler and the wife of Congressman Marlin Stutzman, announced the formation of a new organization called "Mothers Against Gun-Free Zones."  From her piece in today's Washington Times:

. . . My No. 1 priority is to know with assurance that my son will be kept safe in every way and that, if attacked, he will have the ability and freedom to defend himself. Yes, by all means, we need to discuss the current lack of adequate treatments for mental health. There are obviously major issues that need to be addressed in that area of health care. But until that complicated subject is honestly addressed and corrected, there is one sure-fire, no-fail way to keep our kids safe: No Gun-Free Zones. . . . 

Looking at every mass shooting on record, since 2009, one thing is clear: Gun-free zones don’t protect, they endanger. The Crime Prevention Research Center (CPRC) released a report in 2014 showing that 92 percent of mass public shootings between January 2009 and July 2014 took place in gun-free zones. Have we become so politically correct that we are willing to ignore the facts to the detriment of our children’s safety? . . .

Yet more evidence that these killers are deterred by people with guns: Charleston, South Carolina Church Shooter

As I have previously pointed out how mass public shooting after mass public shooting keep occurring where guns are banned. Here is yet another case of these killers avoiding places where people with guns might be able to stop their killing spree. From the Associated Press:

Last week, while they were drinking in the back of Scriven's house, Roof blurted out his plan about carrying out a mass shooting at the College of Charleston.
"I don't think the church was his primary target because he told us he was going for the school," Scriven said Friday. "But I think he couldn't get into the school because of the security ... so I think he just settled for the church." . . .

Here is what the College of Charleston puts up regarding their armed officers.

Police officers responding to an active shooter are trained to proceed immediately to the area in which shots were last heard in order to stop the shooting as quickly as possible. The first responding officers may be in teams; they may be dressed in normal patrol uniforms, or they may be wearing external ballistic vests and Kevlar helmets or other tactical gear. The officers may be armed with rifles, shotguns or handguns. Do exactly as the officers instruct. The first responding officers will be focused on stopping the active shooter and creating a safe environment for medical assistance to be brought in to aid the injured. . . .

I have spoken recently about mass public shootings at the law school at the College of Charleston, and given that it was my topic, I checked out the security measures at the school.  There were no metal detectors present, just a reliance on armed campus security.

The media generally ignores that these attacks keep occurring where guns are banned, instead concentrating on how the killer obtained the gun or the weapon used. Yet, it is very hard to stop people who are planning these attacks over 6 months in advance from getting a weapon. Background checks and other "solutions" wouldn't stop these attacks that are being used to motivate the laws.

"His mom had taken the gun from him and somehow he went back and took it from her."

(We have previously noted that Greta's show on Fox News interviewed one of the killer's friends who had said that the killer had stolen the gun he used from his mom without her knowing it.)

Texas House and Senate reach deal to get Campus Carry bill passed

It looked as if the Campus Carry bill in Texas was going to die.  Well, a last minute deal between the state House and Senate appears to have saved it.  From the Austin American-Statesman:

. . .  Apparently out of options in the House, state Rep. Allen Fletcher, R-Cypress, turned to the Senate, where he said he worked out a deal to have campus carry legislation grafted onto another gun bill as an amendment. The move would allow the new combination bill to return to the House, where approval by the Republican majority is expected. 

“If I can get the Senate to send it back over this way, we’ll wrap it up and call it a session,” Fletcher said Wednesday. “It’ll save a lot of time and effort and debate.” 

The first step of the plan took place Wednesday evening when Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick referred House Bill 910, allowing those with a concealed handgun license to openly carry a holstered firearm, to the Senate State Affairs Committee, where it must receive a public hearing and a vote before heading to the full Senate. . . .  

Both gun bills seemed to be stuck at an impasse as the two chambers jockeyed to see which bills moved forward — and who would receive credit for writing gun bills that Gov. Greg Abbott has already promised to sign into law. 

Fletcher said Wednesday’s action, which broke the logjam, came in an agreement with Republican Sens. Brian Birdwell, author of the campus carry bill, and Craig Estes, author of the open carry measure. . . . . 

If House members agree — the open carry bill passed 101-42 last month — the combined bill would be sent to Abbott for his signature.

Nevada one step closer to getting rid of gun-free zones in colleges and government buildings

From the Las Vegas Review Journal:

A controversial bill that would allow people with concealed weapons permits to carry their guns on Nevada college campuses won approval in the Assembly on Monday and now goes to the Senate. 

The so called “campus carry” measure, Assembly Bill 148, is sponsored by Assemblywoman and gun rights advocate Michele Fiore, R-Las Vegas, along with many of her colleagues. 

The vote for passage was 24 to 15 with all but one Democrat, James Ohrenshall of Las Vegas, opposed. Three members were absent. . . . 

Washoe County Sheriff Chuck Allen is supporting the bill. 

Gov. Brian Sandoval has said he won’t take a position until and if a bill lands on his desk. 

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures in information dated from February 2015, 23 states let universities make the call on carrying concealed weapons, 20 ban weapons and seven, including Utah, Colorado and Idaho, allow firearms to be carried with some limitations. . . .

Testifying before the Nevada Assembly Judiciary Committee on eliminating many Gun-Free Zones

From the Las Vegas Review Journal:

. . . Proponents of the bill included John Lott, an academic and president of an organization called the Crime Prevention Research Center, who offered statistics to debunk some of the arguments against the bill.
Lott said his review shows no evidence in the states where campus carry is allowed that a permit holder has ever committed a crime on a campus. There were three accidents which resulted in no harm, he said. There are no cases of a permit holder shooting an innocent bystander and there are no cases of responding law enforcement shooting a permit holder by mistake, he said.
Lott said his review of mass shooting incidents shows that perpetrators intentionally seek out gun-free areas to commit their crimes.
The group Media Matters calls Lott a “discredited gun researcher” who makes false claims about gun violence. Lott’s group is associated with NRA member Ted Nugent. Media Matters says it is dedicated to correcting “conservative misinformation” in the U.S. media.
But Lott defended his research, and said Media Matters for several years would not let him correct the errors in the many attacks on him in the comment section on their site.
“They won’t even let their readers know there is a response,” he said.
Lott said his organization also has a prestigious academic advisory board.
The published research runs about 70 percent finding a benefit from campus carry laws for reduced crime to 30 percent showing no effect, he said.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures in information dated from February 2015, 23 states let universities make the call on carrying concealed weapons, 20 ban weapons and seven, including Utah, Colorado and Idaho, allow firearms to be carried with some limitations. . . .

From the Las Vegas Sun:

. . . The testimony was emotionally charged on both sides and involved victims of violent crimes who were divided on the effect of guns at schools, places that have been home to some of the nation’s most horrific mass shootings in recent years.
Fiore brought in John Lott, a nationally known gun-law expert and author of the book “More Guns, Less Crime.”
Democratic lawmakers peppered him with questions about the potential of a campus carry permit holder shooting an innocent bystander.
Lott said he’s found no examples of such instances in his research across the country. He said permit holders are more lawful citizens than police officers and non-permit holders.
“The question is not how young people behave,” he said. “The question is about how permit holders behave.” . . .

Piece in the Las Vegas Review Journal: "Gun-free zones put innocent in danger"

My op-ed in the Las Vegas Review Journal starts this way:

Would you post a sign announcing that your home is a gun-free zone? Would you feel safer? Criminals don’t obey these signs. In fact, to criminals, gun-free zones look like easy targets. 

So why do we put up these signs in other places? On Thursday, amid opposition from state education leaders, the Assembly Judiciary Committee heard testimony on Assembly Bill 148, which would allow concealed-weapons permit holders to carry at public college campuses and schools under some circumstances. 

Since at least 1950, all but two public mass shootings in America have taken place where general citizens are banned from carrying guns. In Europe, there have been no exceptions. Every mass public shooting has occurred in a gun-free zone. And Europe is no stranger to mass shootings. It has been host to three of the six worst K-12 school shootings and by far the worst mass public shooting perpetrated by a single individual. 

Killers often openly talk about their desire to attack where guns are banned. Last June, Elliot Rodger, who killed six people in Santa Barbara, Calif., explained his own choice. In his 141-page “Manifesto,” Rodger turned down targets because he worried that someone with a gun would cut short his killing spree. 

That same month, Justin Bourque shot to death three people in Canada. His Facebook page made fun of gun bans, with pictures of defenseless victims explaining to killers that they weren’t allowed to have their guns. . . .

The rest of the piece is available here.

Pennsylvania town posts signs: "This is not a gun free zone"

Conoy Township has only a little over 3,000 people, but they may be getting some unusual attention.  From Lancaster, Pennsylvania's LNP:

Conoy Township has a message for criminals who might be thinking about preying on its residents: This is not a gun-free zone.
And that’s exactly what visitors will see once all the signs are securely in place along every road leading into the township. . . .
Mohr said he came up with the idea and township supervisors unanimously approved the decision to create and post the signs last fall.
“Over the last six months we’ve seen more and more home invasions and petty crime, so we thought these signs would show people we take pride in what we own,” he said. . . .

Leading European Rabbi calls for Jews to be able to carry handguns

Putting 10,000 French soldiers in front of Jewish facilities will offer little protection as terrorists have control over where and when they attack.  Terrorists have important strategic advantages in picking the time and place for attacks.  Putting uniformed guards at places mean that terrorists will either kill these guards first or wait for them to leave an area before an attack occurs. From Israel National News:

A prominent European rabbi has called on governments to relax gun-licensing legislation to allow Jews to carry firearms for self-defense, following last week's deadly Paris attacks and amid rising anti-Semitism on the continent. 

Rabbi Menachem Margolin wrote to the governments of all EU-member states urging a change in the law to allow special gun permits for Jews at risk. 

In the letter Rabbi Margolin, who is director general of the Rabbinical Centre of Europe (RCE) and the European Jewish Association (EJA), wrote:  

"We hereby ask that gun licensing laws are reviewed with immediate effect to allow designated people in the Jewish communities and institutions to own weapons for the essential protection of their communities, as well as receiving the necessary training to protect their members from potential terror attacks." 

In a statement to Newsweek, which obtained a copy of the letter, Rabbi Margolin added that he believes that "as many people within the Jewish community as possible" should carry weapons. . . .

Will Florida pass a law that would allow people with permits to carry a concealed handgun on college campuses?

After a mass public shooting at Florida State University left students defenseless last month, one area state legislator is trying to fix the problem.

. . . The proposal (SB 176), filed Thursday Sen. Greg Evers, R-Baker,  is identical to a bill (HB 4005) filed earlier this week by Rep. Greg Steube, R-Sarasota. The bill would allow people with concealed-weapons licenses to carry guns on campus. It comes after an incident last month at Florida State University in which a gunman shot three people at the campus library before he was killed by police. 

The bills will be considered during the 2015 legislative session. 

Steube said he already planned to sponsor the measure before a shooting incident last month at Florida State University —- but that the attack, which left three people injured and the gunman dead, helps to make his point. The bill would apply to people who are licensed to carry concealed weapons. 

“I think it (the attack) brings it closer to home for people who think these events don’t occur in Florida, or that law enforcement can prevent them from happening,” Steube told The News Service of Florida. . . . 

Other relevant past posts
Police rule that student who retrieved his gun from his car at Eastern Florida State College acted in self defense against two attackers

Arizona and Florida considering bill to let law-abiding citizens carry concealed on college campuses

Bakersfield, California Vice Principal shows that concealed carry permit holders can legally carry guns on school property

This story won't be a surprise for those who have followed the CPRC (or here).  In California, concealed carry permit holders are allowed to carry on school property if they have approval of the school superintendent, which it would be too surprising for Vice Principal to obtain.  From KBAK/KBFX in Bakersfield, California:

A Tevis Junior High School administrator who was arrested and subsequently released last month after bringing a gun to school has filed a claim against the city of Bakersfield and its police department, according to his attorney Daniel Rodriguez.

Kent Williams, 51, vice principal at the school since 2010, said he was falsely arrested by BPD officers for bringing the handgun to school, because he has a valid concealed-weapons permit and showed it to them before the arrest was made.

"Me, being a law abiding citizen, that was the first time I had ever been exposed to handcuffs," Williams said. "I was frightened and scared out of my mind."

Rodriguez said his client brought the gun to school for safety reasons.

He said several laws were violated by the arrest on behalf of the department, which later released Williams from custody.

Police said it was initially believed that Williams may have violated the California Gun Free Zone Act but said the vice principal likely did not break any laws because of his valid concealed-carry firearms permit, which was issued by Kern County. . . .

Continued massive coverage of the Taylor Woolrich story: What happens when a woman is being stalked but not able to defend herself

KGTV San Diego: "College student wants right to carry gun on campus"

Fox 5 San Diego: "Dartmouth student from San Diego wants to carry a gun on campus"
Red Alert Politics: "Darmouth College student advocates for concealed carry on campus"
KTOK 1000 Oklahoma: "Why David Boren et. al. Need to Re-think Their Gun Policies"
MyFoxChicago: "Ivy Leaguer with stalker may drop out over anti-gun policy"
The UK Daily News: "College student threatens to drop Dartmouth if the school does not allow her to carry a handgun on campus to protect herself from a 'stalker with a rape kit'"
Business Insider: "Dartmouth Won't Allow Student To Carry Gun For Protection, Despite A Man Allegedly Stalking Her For Four Years"
Fox 5 San Diego: "Dartmouth student from San Diego wants to carry a gun on campus"
China News: "美女学生长期遭老男人骚扰欲携枪防身遭校方拒绝 [The beautiful woman student suffers the old man to harass for a long time wants to take along the gun self-defense to suffer the school authorities to reject]"
The Blaze: "Ivy League School’s Response to Student Requesting to Carry a Concealed Handgun to Defend Herself From Dangerous Stalker"
NBC News in San Diego: "Dartmouth Student Seeks Right to Carry Gun to Protect Herself Against Stalker"
The Washington Times: "Stalked student may drop out of Dartmouth over no-guns policy"
Inquisitr: "Gun Control Rule At Dartmouth College Denies Taylor Woolrich Protection From Stalker With ‘Rape Kit’"
Katie Pavlich at Townhall.com: "Female Campus Carry Advocate and Dartmouth Student Details Stalking: "They Found a Rape Kit in His Car"
Katie Pavlich at Townhall.com: "Mother of Virginia Tech Victim Advocates For Concealed Carry on Campus
The Truth About Guns: "Dartmouth College Denies Stalker Victim Right to Armed Self Defense, Perpetuates #waronwomen"
Rare: "Dartmouth wouldn’t let this woman carry a gun to fend off her stalker"
Breitbart: "Dartmouth Student to "Drop out" unless she can carry gun to fend off stalker"
Newsbusters: "NBC Highlights College Student Fighting for Right to Carry Gun on Campus"
News World Today: "Dartmouth Won’t Allow Student To Carry Gun For Protection, Despite A Man Allegedly Stalking Her For Four Years"
Independent Journal Review: "Student Tormented By Stalker May Have To Drop Out Because College Won’t Allow Her To Defend Herself"
Georgia Newsday: "Stalked student will 'drop Dartmouth' for not allowing her a handgun"
The Examiner: "Female student not allowed to carry gun to protect self against predator"
NewHampshire.com: "Woman stalked by man, 67, caught with rape kit says she'll drop out of Dartmouth if not allowed to carry a gun"
MyFoxChicago: "Ivy Leaguer with stalker may drop out over anti-gun policy"
Voice of San Diego: "Student from SD Takes Stand on Carrying Gun"
BizPacReview: "College student stalked for 4 years makes impassioned plea to carry a gun for self-defense"
Campus Reform: "Dartmouth student denied concealed carry despite aggressive stalker"
Heavy: "Taylor Woolrich: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know"
Opposing Views: "Dartmouth Won't Allow Student To Carry Gun To Protect Against Stalker"
Red Alert Politics: "Darmouth College student advocates for concealed carry on campus"
KTOK 1000 Oklahoma: "Why David Boren et. al. Need to Re-think Their Gun Policies"
Los Angeles Times: "Dartmouth won't let woman carry gun to protect against accused stalker"
KTLA-TV Channel 5 in Los Angeles: "Dartmouth College Student Denied Request to Carry Gun to Protect Against Alleged Stalker"
Texas GOP Vote: "Dartmouth College Puts Anti-Gun Ideology Above Safety of Stalked Female Student"
KFMB 760 AM: "San Diego student seeks gun permit from Dartmouth"
WRTV Channel 6 Indianapolis: "College student wants right to carry gun on campus"
The Daily Reporter, Greenfield, Indiana: "San Diego student seeks concealed gun permit from Dartmouth to protect against alleged stalker"
KERO ABC Channel 23, Bakersfield, California: "San Diego student seeks gun permit from Dartmouth College"
The Lompoc Record, Lompoc, California: "San Diego student seeks gun permit from Dartmouth"
Breitbart (revisited): "Dartmouth will not allow stalking victim to carry gun for self-defense"
DigiNews: "Women Against Feminism fight back"

Dartmouth Student Is Stalked for 4 Years, Wants Right to Carry Gun

Here is the first part of the story that was the lead up at Fox News:

A 20-year-old Dartmouth student says she may have to give up her Ivy League dream and drop out of school because the prestigious college won't allow her to carry a gun -- to protect herself against a predator.

Taylor Woolrich, a junior, says Dartmouth administrators told her they won’t let her carry a gun on campus, even though she lives in fear of a man who has been stalking her since she was a high school student in San Diego. 

“It’s absolutely unfair,” Woolrich said about her attempts to have the school make an exception to its weapons ban. “It’s one of the hardest things I’ve had to deal with.”
Woolrich was 16 years old and working in a San Diego café when she says a man came in to buy coffee and then kept returning throughout the day, staring at her for long periods of time and trying to flirt with her. The man, 67-year-old Richard Bennett, kept this up for days, she says, even sitting outside the store for an entire day and then following her home, demanding that she talk to him and saying he was “trying to protect her.” 

She filed a restraining order, but it did little to keep Bennett away. Woolrich says he constantly harassed her during her first two years at Dartmouth, stalking her on social media and sending messages in which he “promised” to fly across the country to see her at college. 

“I thought they were empty threats, but when I came home from school last summer, he was at my front door within eight hours of my plane landing,” she said. “That’s when I realized how serious it was.” 

Woolrich and her family called the police, and Bennett was arrested. A search of his car uncovered a slip noose, a knife, gloves and other items. 

Bennett is currently in jail in San Diego County, accused of violating the restraining order and felony stalking, as well as other charges. His next court date is Aug. 20. If convicted, his maximum sentence would be four years. 

Woolrich says she inquired about obtaining a permit to carry a concealed weapon in California and learned that the minimum age to get one is 21, though exceptions can be made under special circumstances. She says the Sheriff’s Licensing Division told her she could qualify, and she learned the same exception can be granted in New Hampshire, where Dartmouth is located. 

But Dartmouth administrators told her she was “absolutely not” allowed to carry a weapon on campus. She says she tried to plead her case and was told to speak with several campus officials, all of whom provided little to no help. 

“There’s no option. There’s no one to go to. They don’t want to hear my case,” she said.
Many colleges across the country have banned guns on campus to prevent mass shootings and accidental shootings by irresponsible or inebriated students. But the pro-gun rights Crime Prevention Research Center, in a study published on Monday, said there have been no reported problems or issues with college-age permit holders on campuses in the nine states –  Colorado, Florida, Wisconsin, Utah, Pennsylvania,Oregon, Mississippi, Kansas and Idaho – whose laws mandate that students and others be permitted to carry concealed handguns on public college grounds. 

“There’s this fear about the possibility of students causing problems, but people talk about these things without actual examples,” the center’s president, John Lott, told FoxNews.com. “By far, the safest course of action is to carry a gun for protection, especially for female victims.” 

“[Woolrich] has legitimate concern,” he added. “There’s only so much a restraining order can do.” 

Woolrich says Dartmouth’s Department of Safety and Security told her that instead of carrying a gun, she should call campus security and arrange for an escort if she felt unsafe after dark. But she says she was often asked to justify her requests when she called, and security officers gave her a hard time for calling often. 

“What they don’t understand is that it’s not enough,” she says. “Stalkers just don’t only show up after dark. Unless they have an armed guard in front of my dorm room, I'm not sure how safe I will be. I don’t think there’s much an unarmed guard can do.” . . .

Great speech by Congressman Thomas Massie: "Day 3 - Washington Under Siege"

East Tennessee family restaurant posts "Guns are Welcome"

From WBIR in eastern Tennessee:

Gun control is a hot topic across the country, and one East Tennessee restaurant owner is making her opinion very clear by posting a 'Guns are Welcome' sign on the front door of her family-friendly establishment.

"As the owner, I wanted to stand my ground. I have that constitutional right. If you like it, that's great, if you don't, I'm sorry for you. I can't change who I am," said Sharma Floyd, with Shiloh Brew and Chew.

Floyd said she posted the signs about a month ago after reading a story out of North Carolina.

"They had put up a sign that said 'No Weapons Allowed' and they were robbed at gunpoint two days later. The convenience store manager was shot," said Floyd. "And that got me thinking. I lost a whole group of motorcyclists because they thought I didn't allow weapons. But I believe it's ok to carry as long as you have a permit."

The restaurant does not sell liquor, and Floyd said she asks anyone who orders a beer if they are carrying. . . .