Virginia Tech and other public colleges that ban guns from campus may end up in the legislative hot seat during next year's General Assembly session.

Earlier this year, Tech touched off a heated debate over campus gun policies when the university pursued disciplinary measures against a student caught carrying a handgun to class.

The student, who was never named, had a state-issued permit to carry a concealed handgun.

However, Tech officials contend that the university's ban on weapons supersedes the student's permit while on campus.

The potential conflict between university policies and state laws becomes even more murky when it comes to campus visitors.

Lawmakers on both sides of the issue said this week that they fully expect the issue to come up during the 2006 General Assembly session, which begins in January.

Del. Albert Eisenberg, an Arlington Democrat, said he plans to reintroduce legislation that would give public colleges the explicit right to regulate firearms on campus. Virginia code bans guns on K-12 school grounds in most circumstances, but does not mention college campuses.

Eisenberg said he realizes that attitudes toward guns likely vary from campus to campus. Students and employees of an urban university may feel less comfortable knowing guns are allowed on campus than those at a college in rural Virginia, where hunting is more popular, he said.

For that reason, his bill would not require college officials to enact a policy but merely grants them the authority.

Eisenberg sponsored identical legislation this year, but the measure died in committee.

"The issue is not for the state to dictate a one-size-fits-all policy," Eisenberg said. "It just makes sense for the institutions to decide for themselves. This is not pro-gun. This is not anti-gun."

Del. Morgan Griffith, R-Salem, is considering the opposite: Legislation that would block colleges from prohibiting guns on campus, at least among visitors.

Griffith, who is majority leader in the House of Delegates, said he likely will decide later this fall or winter whether to introduce a bill. Other lawmakers may sponsor their own measures.

Either way, Griffith indicated that he believes the issue will be looked at this session.

"It is my position that the code currently allows concealed weapons at colleges and universities," Griffith said.

"I think there's a different standard for students because they have a student conduct code. I do not think they can apply that [prohibition] to the general population."

Several members of gun owners' rights groups threatened earlier this year to challenge Tech's gun ban.

Virginia Tech Police Chief Debra Duncan said that has not happened.

But she has noticed a spike in the number of students and employees storing their firearms at the campus police office, as required under Tech policy.

Duncan said she believes the controversy during the spring likely increased awareness of Tech's gun policies.