I OPPOSE the proposed regulation.

The proposed regulation is beyond the authority granted to the Governor and is a blatant violation of Article 1, Section 13 of the Virginia State Constitution which states:

That a well regulated militia, composed of the body of the people, trained to arms, is the proper, natural, and safe defense of a free state, therefore, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed; that standing armies, in time of peace, should be avoided as dangerous to liberty; and that in all cases the military should be under strict subordination to, and governed by, the civil power.

What part of "SHALL NOT BE INFRINGED" do you not understand?

The General Assembly has explicitly delineated the places where carry of firearms is restricted and/or prohibited. The Governor has no authority for this regulation. If the General Assembly wanted the Governor to have such power, they would have granted it to him explicitly, as is required constitutionally.This is an attempt by the Governor to violate the separation of powers.

Furthermore, this proposed regulation will have the opposite of the intended affect by playing into the hands of terrorists, violent criminals, and the criminally insane. We have had no shootings in state agencies and this prohibition on those with a concealed handgun permit, some of whom have active and ongoing threats to their lives, is entirely without any justification and needlessly and recklessly endangers innocent lives.

Every mass shooting in recent history has occurred in a gun free zone. Why does the Governor insist on making it easier for mass murderers to do their evil deeds?

Disarming good citizens (who are the only ones likely to obey the prohibition) does not make them safer.

This proposed regulation is a solution for which there is no problem. It endangers state employees, law abiding citizens, and the innocent by making state buildings a safe zone for terrorists, criminals, and the criminally insane to conduct their evil and savage actions.

This regulations should not be approved and the emergency regulation withdrawn.

Please extend the comment period for another 30 days.