DENVER, Feb. 3 (UPI) -- A Colorado lawmaker, who was a student at Columbine High School when 12 students and a teacher were killed by two gunmen, introduced a bill to allow concealed firearms in the state's schools.
State Rep. Patrick Neville, a Republican, said he supports a law that would allow anyone with a concealed handgun permit to carry a concealed firearm in public schools.
"This bill will allow honest law-abiding citizens to carry a concealed firearm for protection if they choose to," Neville said in a news release. "But most importantly, it will give them the right to be equipped to defend our children from the most dangerous situations."
Neville is co-sponsoring the bill along with his father, state Sen. Tim Neville, also a Republican.
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"Parents wake up everyday and bring their children to school on blind faith that their kids will return home safe. Unfortunately the current system continues to leave our children as sitting targets for criminals intent on doing harm," the younger Neville said.
The bill is not likely to pass Colorado's Democrat-controlled House.
Neville was at Columbine High School in 1999 when two fellow students opened fire on students and teachers. In addition to the 12 people who died that day, 20 people were injured.
"Our teachers and faculty were heroic in so many ways that day," he said. "That's why I truly believe had some of them had the legal authority to be armed, more of my friends would still be alive today."
Anyone who uses tragedies as an excuse to eliminate our rights to protect our children in the way I want to is wrong.
— Rep. Patrick Neville (@PatrickForCO) February 3, 2015
