The proposed regulation to ban firearms on all State Agency property is dangerous for both Commonwealth employees and the people those agencies serve.  Creating gun-free zones provides a safe haven for would-be criminals and terrorists to conduct their criminal activities, and at the same time, unconstitutionally disarms the law abiding citizens this regulation claims to protect.  Further, if the parking lots of these agencies are included in this ban, the result will be to disarm citizens as they travel to and from their personal residences to conduct business with these agencies, leaving them vulnerable well outside areas under the Commonwealth's control.  This is not only unconstitutional, it is unethical and puts the citizens of the Commonwealth of Virginia at risk.

The regulation would also be in direct opposition to the will of the people of the Commonwealth of Virginia and would not hold up in court to the inevitable challenges it would generate.  I strongly urge the withdrawal of this proposed regulation and the immediate termination of the current emergency regulation.  I also request that the comment period for this proposed regulation be extended.