Does college make you stupid?
That’s what some are asking after the University of Virginia canceled a 21-gun salute, citing claimed widespread fear of guns.
“For more than a decade, ROTC cadets at the University of Virginia have held a 24-hour vigil each Veterans Day that concludes with a 21-gun salute to those who’ve served,” Bearing Arms reports. “This year, however, the guns of November will fall silent after the university’s president announced that the tradition is over, in part because of concerns about gun violence.”
“One is that it would be disruptive to classes and two, unfortunately with gun violence in the U.S., there was some concern that we would cause a panic if someone heard gunshots on grounds,” said UVA President Jim Ryan.
Ryan did not bring up the possibility of simply informing students and police of the event or the possibility of expecting college students to behave like adults.
Local ABC affiliate WHSV reports:
Veterans like Jay Levine are upset with the decision. Levine went through the ROTC program at UVA and says the 21-gun salute is the ultimate salute to those who have served and passed away.
“I am very disillusioned, very upset, and very surprised that they would make such a decision,” Levine said.
Levine says he will write an email to UVA about his concerns. He hopes talking in a more public setting will help entice more veterans to take action.
“Freedom isn’t free,” Levine said. “There’s a cost and that cost is born by the veterans and the families of those veterans.”
Ryan says the 21-gun salute may return.
“Following this year’s ceremony, however, we will work with our ROTC officers and cadets to take a closer look at options for our Veterans Day events, including those that would enable us to re-introduce the 21-gun salute to the program,” said Ryan.
AAN Staff
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