Liberty University has announced that it’s awarding Cole Winthrow a scholarship and will help him graduate on time.
LIBERTY U. AWARDS SCHOLARSHIP TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT ARRESTED FOR GUN VIOLATION, AT A HIGH SCHOOL
Lynchburg, VA. – In reaction to the gun control debate in America, Liberty University recently loosened – not strengthened – its concealed weapons policy on campus, and is now providing a scholarship to a North Carolina high school student who was arrested for leaving a shotgun in his pick-up truck in the school parking lot.
Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr. while traveling in North Carolina, learned of Cole Withrow’s story from a local evening news broadcast on WRAL. The 16-year-old student was wearing a “Liberty University” t-shirt.
Withrow is an eagle scout and a honor student who has completed a number of gun safety courses. He had been skeet shooting a day before his arrest, and only realized he had left the gun in his car once he arrived at his High School.
Knowing school policy, Withrow immediately locked the gun in his truck, and went inside the school to call his mom to solicit her help in getting the gun home.
After a school official overheard the phone call, the gun was discovered and Cole was promptly arrested, and given a 365 day suspension from school. The suspension will not allow him to graduate, and school officials are not negotiating. Withrow has legal representation.
Chancellor Jerry Falwell, Jr. issued the following statement, “When I reached out to encourage this responsible and impressive young man, I learned that he wanted to go to Liberty University, but couldn’t afford it. I told him that we would do whatever he needed so that he can attend Liberty. Anti-gun zealots tried to vilify him for doing the right thing, so Liberty has decided to award him the help he needs to attend a private Christian college. I was really impressed with Cole. He is a humble and meek Christian kid who only wants to do the right thing! We want students like Cole Withrow.”
Note: Liberty University’s concealed weapons policy now allows qualified students, faculty and staff to carry concealed firearms on campus and in all buildings, excluding residence halls.
It’s a story gone viral: Winthrow is a high school honor student and Eagle Scout looking forward to his graduation. He’s also a hunter and one day arrived at school, reached around to get his backpack from his backseat, and realized he accidentally left his unloaded shotgun in the back. Worried that he’d get written up as tardy for leaving school grounds to take it home, he did the right thing and promptly went to the principal’s office to call his mom to get it. An assistant principal eavesdropped, freaked out, and called the cops. Winthrow was arrested, faces a felony charge, was denied graduation, and saw his entire life ruined.
Now that the deplorable Johnston County School District and Princeton High School administrators are receiving public backlash, they offered Winthrow an insulting alternative: he can graduate through an alternative school.
Keep in mind this same school gave a slap on the wrist to its assistant principal when she brought a loaded gun to school:
In 2011, Assistant Principal Catherine Bennett allowed the school’s auto mechanics class to work on her car, not knowing that she had left a gun in the glove box. Students in the class found the weapon and showed it to classmates. Bennett and a school resource officer were each suspended for three days without pay, but neither faced criminal charges.
The school remarked in an earlier statement that they “have to follow the law.” Like they did here? Or is there some special reason to explain why they’ve decided to suddenly crack down on a teen and ruin his life because he tried to do the right thing?
Kudos to Liberty University.
