Colorado Politician Who Survived Columbine Wants Concealed Carry in Schools

SOURCE: Washington Examiner

A former Columbine student has introduced a bill to allow for firearms in schools.

Colorado Rep. Patrick Neville, R-Castle Rock, was a student at Columbine High School in 1999 when two seniors went on a massacre that killed 13. Now he has introduced legislation that would allow anyone with a concealed weapons permit to be able to conceal and carry in public schools, according to The Denver Post.

“This bill will allow honest law-abiding citizens to carry a concealed firearm for protection if they choose to,” Neville said in a statement. “But most importantly, it will give them the right to be equipped to defend our children from the most dangerous situations.”

Patrick Neville’s father, Sen. Tim Neville, R-Littleton, is cosponsoring the bill, which will be heard by a Democratic-controlled House State Affairs committee.

Patrick Neville believes the bill will help prevent school shootings. “Barring law abiding permit holders from carrying in schools is an open invitation for violent thugs and criminals intent on doing harm,” he said.

Fifty percent of Colorado voters supported allowing teachers and school officials to carry guns on school grounds, an April 2014 Quinnipiac University poll found.