ODU students petition to carry weapons

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - After a student was robbed at knife-point on campus in September, Old Dominion University police put in plenty of face time with students. It was the third recent incident near the campus and it forced administrators to change how they protected students.

A month and a half later, some students said it is still not enough. The College Republicans feel security should fall into the hands of students and staff.

"If they have their concealed weapons permit to be able to carry their weapons on campus, they're already law abiding students, they have the right to carry it on campus," said club member Tyler Spires.

A petition is now circulating on Facebook and around the student body. Support is coming from as far away as Oregon.

Spires feels ODU's situation is unique because the open campus blends in with the surrounding neighborhood.

"They can ban us from concealed carrying, but a regular joe blow like you can conceal carry anywhere you want on this campus and they can't tell you you can't," he said.

ODU doesn't see it that way. A spokesperson sent the following statement.

"At Old Dominion University, our primary mission is education. Our campus is a place where students come to exchange ideas and bring their goals to life. Like the vast majority of universities across the Commonwealth and the country, Old Dominion University does not permit firearms on campus. The university has a wide range of safety measures in place to provide an environment where members of our community are free to learn and grow."

Several students had not heard of the petition but they see the police and feel safe.

"I've noticed a lot more security at ODU since that happened. A lot of the crime I think comes with going to school in a city. If you're going to come here, you should be ready for that. It's Norfolk, it's not the middle of nowhere," said Dominique Stewart.

WAVY.com has learned the written petition has more than 100 signatures. As of Friday morning, the online petition had more than 120 signatures. Click here for the online petition called "Students for a Safer Campus."