The father of a student killed in the shooting massacre at Virginia Tech endorsed a Democratic state Senate candidate Monday, further politicizing the deadliest shooting ever on an American higher-education campus.
Joe Samaha, whose daughter, Reema, was among those killed inside Norris Hall on April 16, announced his support of Janet Oleszek in her 37th Senate district race against Republican incumbent Ken Cuccinelli.
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Candidates have discussed their ideas for making campuses safer throughout the campaign and are often asked about the Virginia Tech shooting during citizen forums. Samaha is believed to be the first parent of a victim to use the incident as a reason to support a political candidate.
“When it comes to our children’s safety, there is no political color,” Samaha, who lives in the district, said in a news conference on George Mason University’s campus. “No blue, no red, just common sense. No politician should support easy access to guns. … Since April 16, I’ve been compelled to speak out and advocate on behalf of Reema and many of her fellow students and professors killed that day. Now you and I can be Reema’s voice on November 6.”
Oleszek, who has pledged to support requiring background checks at gun shows and backs legislation banning guns from schools and day care centers, also collected the endorsement Monday from the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
Cuccinelli described his position as opposing “taking away constitutional rights. I believe law-abiding citizens have a right under the Second Amendment to posses guns.” He pointed out that he opposes allowing undergraduate students to carry guns on campuses and supports additional laws preventing mentally ill citizens from owning firearms .
Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington, said the Virginia Tech tragedy was bound to become electioneering fodder.
“This is one of the hardest-fought campaigns in the whole state,” he said of the Oleszek-Cuccinelli contest. “Everything candidates can bring to the table to get themselves elected will be up for discussion. The Virginia Tech tragedy has been discussed in political debates throughout Virginia.”
