GOVERNOR'S VETO

Pursuant to Article V, Section 6, of the Constitution of Virginia, I veto Senate Bill 383, which criminalizes an individual’s possession of a firearm in a building owned or operated by a public institution of higher education.

While I am committed to ensuring well-secured and safe college campuses in Virginia, this legislation does not adequately consider the numerous variations in Virginia’s diverse geographic, cultural, and societal norms across different regions of the Commonwealth.

The Boards of Visitors at Virginia’s institutions of higher education already have the authority to regulate their respective campuses, including implementing firearms prohibitions. This allows for consideration of the differences across regions and students’ unique circumstances.

Accordingly, I veto this bill.