'The conflict between school authorities and state law permitting Virginia residents to carry concealed weapons is heating up.

David Briggman, a Keezletown resident and libertarian running for a seat on the Rockingham County Board of Supervisors, wants James Madison University President Linwood Rose to seek an opinion from Virginia Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore on the university's policy restricting firearm possession.

In a letter dated Sept. 1, Briggman wrote that he believes JMU's policy violates Virginia's concealed-weapons statute. Briggman, who has a concealed weapons permit, wants to know from the attorney general whether colleges have the authorty to ban gun possession on campus.

'I am 100 percent sure that your weapons policy is unable to be enforced against a campus visitor and students,' he wrote. 'I am not contending your ability to regulate campus employees as the law specifically allows the state to do.'

Kilgore spokesman Tim Murtaugh said the attorney general had not yet received a formal request for an opinion on the issue. He added that producing an opinion usually takes 45 to 60 days after the request is received.

Briggman bases his contention on an opinion from Kilgore last fall.

It stated that the Department of Conservation Recreation 'has no authority to issue regulations prohibiting, within state parks, carrying a concealed handgun by valid permit holders.'

Early this year, Briggman used the same argument to overturn Blue Ridge Community College's policy restricting firearms on its campus. Briggman challenged the policy after he took a gun to a class while running late from a firing range.

BRCC officials determined the law let Briggman carry a concealed weapon on campus. Briggman then began thinking about the policies of other state colleges and universities, including JMU.

He contacted the university, which defended its policy. JMU spokesman Fred Hilton said Rose received the letter and is taking the matter under advisement.

Briggman has urged the Rockingham County and Harrisonburg school boards to revise their no-weapons policies to conform to state law, The Rockingham school board has held firm, while the Augusta County School Board has changed its policy. Harrisonburg is scheduled to take up the issue Sept. 16." (Associated Press, Daily Progress, September 8, 2003)

For policies at the University of Virginia, see George Allen, Dead Squirrels and Firearms.