BOZEMAN Mont.
Montana State University plans to restrict firearms and ban concealed weapons from campus, steps that gun-rights activists argue would make students more vulnerable if a Virginia Tech-style gunman were to threaten the MSU campus.

In April, a mentally disturbed Virginia Tech student shot and killed 32 people in a dormitory and classroom building before killing himself. In 1990 at MSU, Brett Byers fatally shot two other students in a dormitory.

"The only thing a gun-banning policy will accomplish is to insure that this madman has a pool of defenseless victims to kill, that he will encounter no effective resistance as he carves a swath of death through the MSU campus," wrote Gary Marbut of the Montana Shooting Sports Association, an affiliate of the National Rifle Association.

MSU received nearly 100 comments on the proposed update of its weapons policy and only about two supported the proposed weapons restrictions, the Bozeman Daily Chronicle reported Monday.

The overwhelming majority, about 70, agreed with Marbut that banning concealed weapons and restricting firearms would make the campus more dangerous.

"Had there been more loaded guns in view, and accessible, the carnage at VA Tech could have been either completely averted or minimized, not by a brave professor using his own body as a shield, but by a responsible adult student with a concealed weapons permit," wrote Danielle D. Emery of Billings.

T.J. Reeder of Helena was more blunt, asking, "When will you issue the T-shirts with the bullseyes (and) a flashing light saying 'Shoot me!! I'm unarmed!'"

On the other hand, MSU Police Chief Robert Putzke said he is an NRA member and generally supports concealed weapons permits, but not on campus.

Putzke said he doubts that allowing concealed weapons on campus would deter a shooter, because "they're so intent on what they're going to do." An active shooter situation is usually chaotic, the chief said, and any student trying to stop a gunman might not have the skill to do it.