Jerry Falwell Encourages Students To Get Guns To 'End Those Muslims'

DETROIT (CBS DETROIT) - Jerry Falwell Jr., president of Liberty University, is at the center of a controversy after encouraging students to get concealed gun permits to 'end those Muslims.'

In a recent speech Falwell Jr. encouraged students to apply for concealed weapons permits.

Before thousands of university students Falwell connected the dots between more guns in the hands of students and the need to stop Muslims.

"If more good people had concealed guns then 'we could end those Muslims before they walked in and (applause drowns out the last few words) kill  ...'" said Falwell.

Students with permits approved by university police can carry concealed weapons anywhere on Liberty University campus excluding limited areas.

Since the speech more than 100 students at Liberty University have signed up for the free concealed weapon course.

In an interview with the online site ChristianToday Falwell clarified his statement:

He said that when he referred to "those Muslims," he was referring to Islamic terrorists, specifically those behind the attacks in Paris and in San Bernardino. "That's the only thing I would clarify," Falwell said. "If I had to say what I said again, I'd say exactly the same thing."

A spokesman for Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe issued a statement condemning Falwell's remarks.

"My administration is committed to making Virginia an open and welcoming Commonwealth, while also ensuring the safety of all of our citizens. Mr Falwell's rash and repugnant comments detract from both of those crucial goals," McAuliffe said. "Those of us in leadership positions, whether in government or education, must take care to remember the tremendous harm that can result from reckless words."

Sunday evening, President Obama took to the airways to talk about the need to address mass shootings and terror related attacks in the United States.

During the 8 p.m. address, Mr. Obama tried to reassure Americans that the U.S. is safe and that his administration has a strategy in place to defeat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). His speech came four days after the shooting in San Bernardino, California that left 14 people dead and 21 wounded and is now being investigated as an act of terror.

President Obama: "Congress should act to make sure no one on a no-fly list is able to buy a gun. What could possibly be the argument for allowing a terrorist suspect to buy a semi-automatic weapon? This is a matter of national security."

According to the National Conference of State Legislatures there are 19 states which ban the practice of carrying concealed weapons on college campuses. Michigan is among those states banning with weapons on campus.

There are 23 states which leave the decision up to the individual college or university, Liberty University in Lynchburg, Virginia is among this group.

California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Michigan, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee and Wyoming ban carrying a concealed weapon on a college campus.

According to the 2000 Census, Michigan has the largest concentration of Muslims in the US.