After bringing the issue to Governor Nikki Haley’s attention to an issue on campus, a group of cadets were successful in changing a gun policy at The Citadel. In an announcement this week, the school stated cadets with concealed weapons permits will now be allowed to keep their personal guns in their vehicles.

The Post and Courier reported:

The school’s Board of Visitors last weekend voted to suspend its code of regulations and instead will recognize state law that allows all state permit carriers to keep their weapons locked in their vehicles.

The move came after cadets last month used a speaking visit by the governor to get her to use her influence with school president Lt. Gen. John Rosa to make the regulation change.

Cadet Austin Lee, who originally confronted the governor during a speech at McAlister Field House, praised the decision in a group statement he issued with three other cadets Wednesday.

“We would like to thank all of the cadets and gun-rights supporters who made this change possible,” said Lee, a soon-to-be graduating senior. “It has been a long hard road, but we are ecstatic about today’s victory.”

Lee credited three other gun rights-supporting cadets — Kameron Hamlin, Evan Maes and Jake Moore — for the change but noted they will not be able to enjoy the outcome.

“We are senior cadets who will be graduating in two weeks,” they said. “We fought this policy because it was the right thing to do, not for personal gain. We hope our dedication to our constitutionally guaranteed freedoms will inspire others in similar positions to do the same.”

Before connecting with Governor Haley, the group had collected more than 1,100 signatures from cadets on a petition to change the Citadel’s policy, noting that policy conflicted with the state gun law allowing guns in cars, provided they are stored in a secure manner.

“The governor appreciates Lt. Gen. Rosa’s willingness to listen to cadets and is happy to see the university adopt a policy, consistent with state law, that protects the rights of those who hold CWPs,” said Chaney Adams, spokeswoman for the governor.