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.

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

Importantly 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 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.

Under these regulations, the saftey of travelers at rest stops are placed in jeopardy since they will not be able to lawfully carry a weapon that could be needed to defend themselves from criminals that will see the "gun free zone" established by these regulations as a target rich enviroment. Rest areas are, by nature, located in rural areas and are not always patrolled on a regular and consistent basis by law enforcement and this provided the opportunity for many horrific crimes against travelers several years ago in Florida. Travelers in Virgina need to be able to defend themselves if necessary so that these same types of occurrances do not happen again. 

This regulations should not be approved and the emergency regulation withdrawn.

Please extended the comment period for another 30 days.
 

Respectfully,

John Holtz