@veruca I think it has to still go through the senate…have you called your senators to let them know your objection?
This worries me immensely and is the only reason I will not allow my son to apply to UT-Austin. I see no upside to students having guns on campus.
Having a concealed weapons license is not something most college students want to go through and get. Those that do are typically well trained and knowledgable with guns and are no risk to other students.
Kids from most posters on here would not be kids I trust with a gun, and I feel that the posters think that because their kids are not gun smart, that most students should not have them on campus.
I started shooting when I was 7 and most of my friends did too. Here in the south we don’t mess around with guns, they are dangerous and can be in the wrong hands.
However, the students that will own them… they are typically not the ones with the wrong hands as they are well taught about gun safety and protocol in emergencies, which is to not engage unless in a life threatening situation.
@d101parent I have been in touch with both my senator and my representative.
@SeniorStruggling -I don’t think we are allowed here to discuss politics. I am sure you are well trained.
However statistics don’t support your argument. People pull out guns when they shouldn’t all the time to the detriment of those around them
@veruca I am not really discussing politics as giving a different outlook.
Concealed carry license owners are the kind of people who are educated in gun safety and have been around guns for a long time, at that age anyways(21).
There are stats in favor of concealed carry and against it. All in all, we are breaking even on it.
I just don’t see this bill as an issue, the age for concealed carry is not changing, it is just allowing people to carry on the campus.
Ultimately though, this is being pushed by the fact that there have been several campus shootings recently. Maybe if someone was carrying not as many people would have died at UT or in an Oregon community college.
@SeniorStruggling I wasn’t accusing you of discussing politics -I was accusing myself if you get my drift - I am expecting this thread to be shut down
Before it does I will say yes -maybe if someone had a gun it would have stopped some of those campus mass shootings. However it is much more likely that that the guns will be used by accident, or when drinking or in a suicide. I am not saying this to be contrary -I am saying it because it is true. Statistically guns are much more likely to be used for a suicide or for the “I got drunk and shot my girlfriend, roommate , brother in law scenario” than they are for protection.
@veruca At the same time though there are stats that show gun owners are not troublesome people. In a study, Texans without CC licenses are 14 times more likely to be arrested and 5 times more likely to be arrested for violent crime.
I think this thread will be shut down, but there are stats to back up both arguments. Ultimately though, concealed carry is still 21, and still requires extensive work to get the permit.
I do not think most college kids will go through the hassle, it will mainly be teachers and staff that end up carrying. The kids that do go through the hassle, however, are not going to be the kids at risk for being violent or non violent offenders.
Let’s face it, it is very hard and no one has to worry about guns being rampant on a college campus, as only 21 year olds and older will be allowed to have them, as well as many 21 year olds not even wanting to do so.
I hope you are right
Uh oh-- this thread is going in “that” direction.
@veruca I don’t see college students wanting to get CC licenses. It is more for the professors and staff than the students.
I thought we were doing pretty good. @SeniorStruggling is very civil.
@veruca thank you, as are you.
It’s nice not having people get hostile when views are different.
Plus the carry on campus will only be in the public parts, many students living off campus are still allowed to have guns at their apartments. The dorms will still be off limits which I think weeds out a lot of “at risk” students.
Supporting yourself or living on your own is not something many kids can do, to go beyond that and apply for a CC…well that is a special type of person. I know that while I would be able, I would not want to have one.
That is why I do not fear it so much. Guns aren’t always bad, and CC gun owners are 14 times less likely to become offenders in Texas, which shows what type of people have CC.
Plus why put yourself at risk if you know that you are going to drink and party, I doubt any sane person would ever apply for a gun license knowing that they were going to go wild. Unless they have a safe, then maybe it’s more ok… but still doesn’t seem like a person would do both.
" Ultimately though, concealed carry is still 21, and still requires extensive work to get the permit."
Umm. I have to disagree with that statement. My son recently applied for one , he is 21 and was approved. He did it not because he owns a gun but because he wanted to see what was needed to get a carry permit. They finger print you , do a background and criminal check and you pay about $80… Thats it. We live in Georgia so maybe it’s different in Texas…
@MichiganGeorgia Background check, waiting period. You must also pass a course and pass the course with the weapon you choose to carry.
If you take the test with a semi-automatic pistol you can also carry revolvers. However, if you take it with a revolver you may not carry with a semi-automatic, only a revolver.
The test is 2 days out of school/work and lasts about 16 hours.
This plus fee for the class and permit. Then you must bring a gun, which also costs money.
That is the Texas way, about $700 total at minimum.
Drug offenses and some others automatically disqualify you from carrying, so some students caught with pot or underage drinking may not even pass the BC check.
Still hoping it wont get into another of the “rattle off statistics on why gun ownership is good” vs “lets list all the tragedies that have occurred with gun accidents” thread.
A friend’s daughter has a CCL and carries at her college in Nashville. She is concerned about her security going back and forth to class in the dark. The GT campus is safe but if you venture a bit outside of it it isn’t in the most pleasant part of town. I am not sure whether campus carry is a response to freedom and states rights, a response to shootings by crazies and/or terrorists, or just worry for personal security or some combination. I would feel a lot more comfortable if my daughter (or son) could protect her/himself. The GT police force is excellent and professional, but still takes minutes to arrive.
For us, this is not just speculation, we have had a family member killed because he was at a gun-free workplace. His co-worker shooter decided to ignore that policy. It might not have helped him but at least the shooter would have been stopped sooner.
I suppose everyone can find statistics that support their beliefs but from what I hear Georgia is very lax regarding permits. Perhaps texas has more requirements to get a CC permit. In Georgia there appears to be no basic safety requirement. The colleges and faculty are, as a whole, actively against the policy.
Someone just sent me a petition from change.org to keep guns off ga tech campus!! So hopefully enough people can sign it to sway the republican senate!
Houston, not Georgia, but similar law.
Interesting piece about some collateral effects of the guns on campus laws: http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/texas-campus-carry-law-putting-damper-academic-debate-n525096