For Immediate Release

(Croton Falls, NY) The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus issued the following statement in response to last night’s shooting at the University of Virginia:

“At this writing, 3 students are dead (D’Sean Perry, Lavel Davis Jr., and Devin Chandler, all of whom played football at the school), while two others were injured by a lone gunman/ student who has been apprehended.

Our thoughts are with the friends and families of the victims and the entire University of Virginia community as they deal with this terrible tragedy.  Currently, we do not have enough information regarding motive, type of firearm used, and how it was acquired.

We do know that according to Virginia state law, public colleges and universities can prohibit the possession, storage, and use of weapons, fireworks, and explosives on University property and in University-owned vehicles (with some exceptions). UVA follows this policy. [1]

UVA President, Jim Ryan, included this information for student, faculty and staff: “Students may call Counseling and Psychological Services at 434-243-5150, 24 hours a day. Information about CAPS is available on the Student Health and Wellness website. Faculty and staff can find a similar resource through the Faculty and Employee Assistance Program by calling 434-243-2643 or by emailing the office via the FEAP website. For those who have questions about these events, including how to establish contact with family members or friends who are here on Grounds, please call the UVA Emergency Hotline at 877-685-4836.”

Despite the terrible loss of life and injury to those on the UVA campus, statistically, higher educational spaces remain much safer than off campus locations.  With this fact in mind, we need to continue to support policies that prohibit the carrying of firearms on America’s colleges and universities.”

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Photo: By terren in Virginia – flickr, CC BY 2.0

About The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus

The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus works with K-12 schools, colleges and universities across the country to oppose legislative policies that would force loaded, concealed guns on campuses. Since 2008, The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus is the only national organization of its kind tasked with protecting higher educational institutions and the communities they serve. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Contact:  Andy Pelosi, The Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus (914-629-6726) [email protected]

[1] Link to UVA policy: https://uvapolicy.virginia.edu/policy/sec-030