At UVA, Governor Spanberger Signs Bills to Keep Students Safe, Support Law Enforcement Officers on College Campuses

CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA - Governor Abigail Spanberger today on Grounds at the University of Virginia signed legislation to help law enforcement officers keep students, faculty, and staff safe on college and university campuses in the aftermath of the 2022 shooting at the university.

During a ceremony in the Rotunda, Governor Spanberger signed Senate Bill 272 and House Bill 626 - patroned by Senator Creigh Deeds and Delegate Katrina Callsen - to make clear that only law enforcement officers, ROTC cadets, and U.S. military personnel are permitted to carry firearms at public institutions of higher education in Virginia. The Governor was joined by UVA President Scott Beardsley, campus law enforcement leadership, and students, parents, and local leaders from across the Charlottesville community who shared their personal stories in the wake of the 2022 tragedy.

"In November 2022, three students here at the University of Virginia were shot and killed on Grounds - Devin Chandler. Lavel Davis Jr. D'Sean Perry. This horrific tragedy devastated this community and our Commonwealth," said Governor Abigail Spanberger. "Their families, friends, and football teammates deserve more than shared grief. They deserve action."

Spanberger continued, "Right now, carrying a firearm on a college campus is prohibited - but only by regulation. That makes it harder for campus police to intervene, harder to enforce, and harder to protect students. By signing these bills into law, we are taking a commonsense step forward to keep students safe in Virginia. I'm deeply grateful for the efforts of Senator Creigh Deeds and Delegate Katrina Callsen to repeatedly pass this legislation through the General Assembly and help lead the way in building a safer Virginia for all."

"Today, we take a meaningful step forward in that commitment to keep university campuses across the commonwealth safe, including our own Grounds," said University of Virginia President Scott Beardsley. "For the past four legislative sessions, the UVA community and leadership have championed a critical change to our commonwealth's laws, led by President Emeritus Jim Ryan, who guided our community through this tragedy with tremendous compassion."

"As a legislator, I take it as a personal responsibility, when parents send kids to our schools, to keep them safe," said Senator Creigh Deeds. "We can't undo the past, but we can ensure the future. That's what this legislation is about."

"Until today, we have not given our colleges and our police chiefs the tools they need to effectively enforce this restriction," said Delegate Katrina Callsen. "It is a responsibility. It is about learning from tragedy, not just accepting it. It's about being a fierce protector of our children and our students."

In April, Governor Spanberger signed bipartisan school safety legislation measures to ensure Virginia teachers have the resources and training to respond to emergencies. These include strengthening training on red flag laws, helping teachers identify student mental health challenges, and modernizing internet safety education.

BACKGROUND

Since taking office in January, Governor Spanberger has remained laser-focused on building a stronger, safer, and more affordable Virginia. The Governor has signed bipartisan legislation to lower costs for families, announced more than $5 billion in new business investment creating more than 3,000 new jobs across the Commonwealth, and worked to contend with the uncertainty coming from Washington that is making life more expensive for all Virginians.

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