Liberty University, founded by late Southern Baptist pastor and televangelist, Jerry Falwell, announced its precedent-setting plans to become the first U.S. university with its own National Rifle Association-compliant gun range facility. The university is taking this action just one year after the board of trustees approved a policy to allow students to carry concealed firearms on campus.
Jerry Falwell Jr., current President of Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia, one year ago urged all students at the school’s mandatory convocation to apply for concealed-carry permits so they can proudly bear firearms around the campus.
“I’ve always thought that if more good people had concealed-carry permits, then we could end those Muslims before they walked in,” he proclaimed to the loud unrestrained applause of students. “I just wanted to take this opportunity to encourage all of you to get your permit. We offer a free course,” he said. “Let’s teach them a lesson if they ever show up here.”
Falwell acknowledged he was packing, explaining the large elongated protrusion in his trousers: “If some of those people in that community center [in California] had what I have [a .25 caliber pistol] in my back pocket right now …,” he said while students interrupted with even louder cheers and sustained clapping. “Is it illegal to pull it out? I don’t know,” he continued while chuckling.
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Falwell told reporters he owns several shotguns, rifles, and pistols, which he has kept on his farm for several years, and he confirmed that he was given a license to carry a concealed weapon last year.
Later, Junior clarified that “those Muslims” to whom he was referring represent people like Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik, the couple who shot and killed 14 people in a San Bernardino, California office building during a holiday party on December 2, 2015.
Junior took over as president of Liberty University after the passing of his controversial father, Jerry Falwell Sr., who founded the conservative Christian institution in 1971.
“Carrying” To Its Logical Conclusions
So, what are the implications of students carrying concealed weapons on the grounds of Liberty University, and on institutions of “higher learning” throughout the United States? Let me count just some of the ways:
- More and more unauthorized deputies will engage in citizens’ vigilante (in)justice by misappropriating the national security duties of local, municipal, state, and national governmental agencies.
- Students will no longer have need of the previously dependable apple to entice professors to raise grades on their term papers.
- Students will have increased options to end domestic quarrels or quell partners’ threats of breakups.
- Depressed students will have greater means of ending their pain.
- Rather than simply giving professors nasty course evaluations on the many online sites, students will now effectively take out educators and spare future generations the torments of having to listen to their classroom chatter.
- And of course, on a college campus or anywhere, firearms and alcohol always combine to produce pleasurable experiences.
But I would ask Falwell, if the historical Jesus were alive today, would he apply for a concealed-carry permit, or instead, would he accuse you of misinterpreting and thoroughly distorting his message? What do you think, Junior?
Onward, Christian soldiers: Jerry Falwell’s university plans on-campus gun range