Students at colleges in two southern states—West Virginia and Tennessee—will be a little better protected now, thanks to their state legislatures passing laws to increase self-defense options.
In West Virginia, Senate Bill 10, called the “West Virginia Campus Self-Defense Act,” was passed by the legislature and signed into law by Republican Gov. Jim Justice back in 2023. That law just took effect on July 1.
Under the new law, law-abiding carry permit holders can carry on the campus of a state institution of higher education. Current state law does not prohibit carrying of a defensive firearm on campus, but institution policy may lead to expulsion or termination of employment.
As pro-gun legislators explained during debate on the measure, adults who are officially licensed to carry a firearm for self-defense should not be prevented from doing so just because they seek higher education.
At the time the measure was signed, NRA West Virginia State Director Art Thomm said: “The Campus Self-Defense Act recognizes the fact that danger doesn’t disappear just because you’ve stepped onto campus grounds. Now, those who choose to exercise the right will have the ability to protect themselves, their classmates and their loved ones should they need.”
At the signing, Gov. Justice said the law would make West Virginians—and the Second Amendment—safer.
“I’m proud to sign the Campus Self-Defense Act which will strengthen Second Amendment protections in West Virginia,” Gov. Justice said. “West Virginia now joins 11 other U.S. states, including Texas and Utah, that have had this legislation for years. I’ve always said I will do everything I can to protect West Virginia’s Second Amendment rights, and with this law, West Virginia will continue to be a national leader.
Meanwhile in Tennessee, a new law signed recently by Republican Gov. Bill Lee bars colleges, universities and other schools from banning non-lethal weapons like pepper spray and stun guns.
The legislation was titled the “Laken Riley Act of 2024” to honor its namesake, a nursing student at the Augusta University College of Nursing in Athens, Georgia, who was found dead after going for a run. It was later discovered that her murderer was an illegal alien, who had been previously cited for theft and shoplifting but was released.
State Sen. Richard Briggs, a supporter of the measure in the state Senate, said the move was a “common-sense response” as some campuses can be dangerous.
″We even had a very close friend of ours when she was a student at UT was assaulted,” Briggs told wvlt.tv. “She was able to get away because she was very athletic. We have had conversations about that for many years about whether this would be appropriate or not and I think we finally did the right thing.”
Like the West Virginia law, the new law in Tennessee also took effect on July 1.
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