Liberty Univ. President Jerry Falwell Jr., encourages students to carry guns

Michael Schramm | University of Michigan

In wake of events such as the recent shooting at San Bernardino, Calif., Liberty University President Jerry Falwell Jr., is encouraging students to carry concealed weapons.

Falwell mentioned the San Bernardino victims at the school’s convocation on Friday, saying, “If some of those people in that community center had what I've got in my back pocket right now, then…” He trailed off to cheers and then added jokingly, "Is it illegal to pull it out?"

LU’s convocation, according to its website, is not a service in its chapel, but a weekly "assembling of our student body and staff leadership in order to inform, inspire and sometimes to simply entertain." The meeting is televised, and the school claims over 13,000 in attendance and "thousands more watching online and on television."



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Falwell later said, “If more good people had concealed carry permits, then we could end those Muslims before they, before they go out there and kill.”

He added, “I just wanted to take this opportunity to encourage all of you to get your permit. (The school) offers a free course.”

His speech led to strong reactions on social media.

I thought nothing else from the Southern American Christian gun culture would shock me. And then Jerry Falwell Jr. opens his mouth. — Vic Morrison (@eemixer) December 5, 2015

Sounds like Jerry Falwell Jr is out to radicalize Christians for a Crusade. What could possibly go wrong? #ChristianTerrorist — ❄️😎❄️ Uncle John (@azmoderate) December 5, 2015

Jerry Falwell Jr made a statement that had to be made. Enough of living in fear from radical Muslims/terrorists. Let's defend this Nation 🇺🇸 — JoJo ß (@Josiah_B98) December 5, 2015

You talk about "tolerance" yet when I post a status agreeing with the words of Chancellor Jerry Falwell Jr, you defriend me.. Hmm.. — gabrielle (@gabrielledrew95) December 4, 2015

I don't necessarily ENJOY getting political, but what Jerry Falwell Jr said in Convo today was flat out idiotic. #BeBetterThanThat — WLuper - October yet? (@wluper) December 4, 2015

So proud of my university president @JerryJrFalwell for standing by his beliefs. Liberty is the best! — Karsyn Keener (@karsynnicole) December 5, 2015

“This is the kind of deplorable, not only hateful, response to a legitimate security issue,” Hillary Clinton said in response to Falwell's convocation on ABC’s This Week with George Stephanopoulos Sunday. “But it is giving aid and comfort to ISIS and other radical jihadists.”

Amid the controversy around his statement, Falwell clarified to The Associated Press that when he referenced Muslims he was referring to Syed Farook and Tashfeen Malik, the husband and wife who killed 14 people in San Bernardino on Dec. 2.

Liberty sent out an email Friday evening providing students information the a school-sponsored concealed weapons course.

@JerryJrFalwell had a gun with him on stage today, so liberty wanted to make it easier for us to be as cool as him pic.twitter.com/oBtIZc5z5p — Julia Rothenberger (@ImJRothenberger) December 4, 2015

What do you think about Falwell's talk? Let us know in the comments section, or tweet at us @USATodayCollege.



Michael Schramm is a University of Michigan student and a USA TODAY collegiate correspondent.

This story originally appeared on the USA TODAY College blog, a news source produced for college students by student journalists. The blog closed in September of 2017.