A UNIVERSITY PRESIDENT in the US has been criticised for remarks in which he told students they should get guns in case “Muslims walk in and kill”.
Jerry Falwell Jr, the President of the 14,000-student Liberty University in Virginia, made the remarks in a convocation ceremony in front of 10,000 students. His call to arms was loudly cheered.
He mentioned how he had a gun “in my back pocket”.
“Let’s teach them a lesson if they ever show up here.
“I’ve always thought if more good people had concealed carry permits, then we could end those Muslims before they walked in and kill.”
Falwell’s father, an evangelist conservative political activist, founded the college.
However, Falwell told The Associated Press on Saturday he was specifically referring to Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik, the husband and wife who shot and killed 14 people at a Christmas party in San Bernardino, California last week.
His comments were rebuked by Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe.
“My administration is committed to making Virginia an open and welcoming Commonwealth, while also ensuring the safety of all of our citizens,” McAuliffe said in a statement issued over the weekend.
“Mr. Falwell’s rash and repugnant comments detract from both of those crucial goals.”
Falwell said he began carrying a .25-caliber handgun in his back pocket. He said he’s had a permit for more than year.
During his address on Friday, Falwell mentioned the weapon and reached around seemingly to fetch it.
“Is it illegal to pull it out? I don’t know,” he said, laughing, drawing some hoots from the audience.
Asked if he was concerned by the prospect of thousands of armed young people on campus, Falwell said Virginia has a minimum age of 21 for a carry-conceal permit. He said that meant only older students would be armed.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
have your say