The Brady Campaign had big plans for April 16, they were intending to have a 'centerpiece' rally at Virginia Tech to showcase their gun banning cause. There are events scattered around the nation, but the real heart of the event was to be held on the Va Tech campus.
The campus basically said they can go take a hike. I don't think this means the campus is pro-gun, but it certainly is saying that it won't be 'used' by the anti-gunners to further their cause.
The campus basically said they can go take a hike. I don't think this means the campus is pro-gun, but it certainly is saying that it won't be 'used' by the anti-gunners to further their cause.
Virginia Tech blocks plans of gun-control group
Brady Campaign won't get permit for event on April 16
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Tuesday, Apr 08, 2008 - 12:20 AM Updated: 12:51 AM
By REX BOWMAN TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Virginia Tech said yesterday that it will not allow a national gun-control advocacy group to hold a campus demonstration on April 16 while the school commemorates last year's massacre.
Tech spokesman Larry Hincker said neither the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence nor the co-sponsor of the planned demonstration, ProtestEasyGuns.com, had applied for an assembly permit, and even if they had, Tech only issues permits to student groups.
Tech's position threw the Brady Campaign's plans into disarray yesterday: The noon demonstration at Tech was supposed to be the centerpiece of a nationwide series of events on April 16 in more than 70 cities and towns.
"I think we'll have to figure out what's going on," said Brady Campaign spokesman Doug Pennington. He added that students and friends of last year's shooting victims are among those who want to participate in the demonstration, "so, I'm sure where there's a will, there's a way without breaking any rules."
The planned demonstration at Tech called for individuals to lie down on the Drillfield in groups of 32 -- to recall the 32 victims of gunman Seung-Hui Cho -- for a few minutes. The brevity of the "lie-in" is meant to highlight how quickly a gun can be purchased in the United States. The Brady Campaign is calling on Congress to mandate background checks of buyers at gun shows.
Tech is marking the shootings on April 16 with a ceremony that begins in the morning and is expected to run past noon. The daylong memorial ends with an evening candlelight vigil.
Hincker said no student group will be given an assembly permit for the Drillfield at noon. "We expect that the ceremony will likely cross the noon hour, and we will not be allowing other groups to interfere with the remembrance event."
Pennington said the Brady Campaign could have a new plan in place as early as today. "It's just a matter of, if not here -- and it sounds like that's the case -- then where?"
Contact Rex Bowman at (540) 344-3612 or rbowman@timesdispatch.com.
Brady Campaign won't get permit for event on April 16
Printer-Friendly Version
Tuesday, Apr 08, 2008 - 12:20 AM Updated: 12:51 AM
By REX BOWMAN TIMES-DISPATCH STAFF WRITER
Virginia Tech said yesterday that it will not allow a national gun-control advocacy group to hold a campus demonstration on April 16 while the school commemorates last year's massacre.
Tech spokesman Larry Hincker said neither the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence nor the co-sponsor of the planned demonstration, ProtestEasyGuns.com, had applied for an assembly permit, and even if they had, Tech only issues permits to student groups.
Tech's position threw the Brady Campaign's plans into disarray yesterday: The noon demonstration at Tech was supposed to be the centerpiece of a nationwide series of events on April 16 in more than 70 cities and towns.
"I think we'll have to figure out what's going on," said Brady Campaign spokesman Doug Pennington. He added that students and friends of last year's shooting victims are among those who want to participate in the demonstration, "so, I'm sure where there's a will, there's a way without breaking any rules."
The planned demonstration at Tech called for individuals to lie down on the Drillfield in groups of 32 -- to recall the 32 victims of gunman Seung-Hui Cho -- for a few minutes. The brevity of the "lie-in" is meant to highlight how quickly a gun can be purchased in the United States. The Brady Campaign is calling on Congress to mandate background checks of buyers at gun shows.
Tech is marking the shootings on April 16 with a ceremony that begins in the morning and is expected to run past noon. The daylong memorial ends with an evening candlelight vigil.
Hincker said no student group will be given an assembly permit for the Drillfield at noon. "We expect that the ceremony will likely cross the noon hour, and we will not be allowing other groups to interfere with the remembrance event."
Pennington said the Brady Campaign could have a new plan in place as early as today. "It's just a matter of, if not here -- and it sounds like that's the case -- then where?"
Contact Rex Bowman at (540) 344-3612 or rbowman@timesdispatch.com.