Armed Liberty Univ. Worries Virginia High Schools

Liberty University President Jerry Falwell's encouragement of an armed campus is causing concern among some Virginia high schools that use the Christian school's facilities for athletic and other events.

The Virginia High School League issued a statement Friday stating that some schools are questioning the use of Liberty's athletic facilities for football state championships. They have safety concerns, the league said.

Earlier this month, Falwell encouraged students and staff at Liberty to seek concealed carry permits so they could carry guns on campus. He cited the mass killings in San Bernardino, California.

"Let's teach them a lesson if they ever show up here," Falwell said during a widely attended convocation.

Since then, hundreds of students have taken a gun safety course offered by campus police. 

The News & Advance reports reported that the VHSL said it will begin evaluating the safety of students who compete at Liberty "in light of these controversial comments."

Some schools have threatened to boycott the state debate championship in April at Liberty, the league said.

Falwell said the university had been in contact with a VHSL official. The official said most of the schools expressing concern are in northern Virginia.

"I'm not surprised that there would be more anti-Second Amendment comments coming from northern Virginia," Falwell said.
 

Copyright AP - Associated Press
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