Findings that gun control laws should be tightened in response to the April 16 massacre at Virginia Tech have given advocates hope that the commonwealth’s General Assembly may endits years of fierce opposition to such measures.

“It is time for action on guns,” said Paul Helmke, president of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. “Condolences are not enough. … No responsible college or university administrator would allow guns on campus, whether brought by students, faculty or outsiders.”