Now, the university’s president, Jerry Falwell, Jr., has, at another mandatory convocation, encouraged students to apply for concealed-weapons permits.
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A day later, Falwell tweeted that his remarks only applied to “those Muslims” who commit acts of terrorism.
According to the statement posted to the university’s website, Falwell’s comments at the school Convocation ceremony on Friday were inspired by the recent terrorist attacks in San Bernardino and Paris, and that “he was in no way referring to the many good and honorable Muslims who do not come into public spaces armed to kill innocents”.
“My administration is committed to making Virginia an open and welcoming Commonwealth, while also ensuring the safety of all of our citizens”, McAuliffe said in a statement issued late Saturday. “Mr. Falwell’s rash and repugnant comments detract from both of those crucial goals”, McAuliffe said. He said more than 100 people had asked Liberty police about a free class to obtain a permit to carry a concealed weapon. The President of Christian Liberty University in the US State of Virginia says his students should wear all hidden weapons.
“That’s the only thing I would clarify”, Falwell said.
“Is it illegal to pull it out?”
Dr. Jerry Falwell (L), President of Liberty University. “I don’t know”, he said, laughing, drawing some hoots from the audience. While that’s true a check of state law shows Virginia residents “must be at least 21 to legally carry a concealed weapon”.
Liberty University is a private institution with about 14,500 students taking courses on campus and another 95,000 enrolled online, according to the school’s website.
The university now has 15 to 20 Muslim students.
“I’ve got three favorites at this point: [Donald] Trump, [Ted] Cruz and [Ben] Carson, not necessarily in that order”, Falwell said.
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Falwell’s remarks were first reported by the News & Advance.
