Jamie Coughlin

WMAL.com

WASHINGTON -- Schools in Virginia would no longer be gun-free zones, but gun-required zones.  That's if Virginia Del. Bob Marshall (R-Prince William) gets his bill passed by the legislature in the upcoming session.

Marshall plans to propose a bill in light of the Connecticut school shooting last Friday that would allow concealed weapons on school campuses and require one or more staff members to be armed.  The bill would not compel teachers who are not comfortable with firearms to carry them.

Marshall says the bill is necessary so teachers can protect their students from shooters.  "When we make an area a gun-free zone, it may make some people feel good but all it does at this point is give an opportunity to malicious people to wreak mayhem," Marshall told WMAL. 

Teachers and administrators like the late principal from Sandy Hook Elementary would be able to avert mass shootings if they were armed, according to Marshall.  "Instead of trying to stop this guy with her body, if she would've had a concealed carry gun and she had seen a guy with a weapon out there, she would've shot him."

Governor Bob McDonnell said earlier this week there should be a discussion about allowing concealed weapons on school grounds for the same reasons, but he did not go so far as to endorse requiring staff to be armed.

Gerry Connolly (D-Fairfax) told WMAL in response to McDonnell's comments he's appalled the topic is even being discussed.  He says McDonnell is calling into question the heroism of Sandy Hook Principal Dawn Hochsprung.  "I call on Governor McDonnell to withdraw his comments because I think they're deeply offensive and from a public policy point of view, deeply troubling."

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