Last year, 3,414 CHL’s were issued (1.6% of all CHL’s issued). That’s about 2% of the population. The number drops a bit after age 21. Many of these CHL holders don’t fit the UT-Austin student profile (likely why UT said they expected it to be less than 1%)…
I think people are naive if they don’t think people have already taken guns into classrooms, even when it was not legal.
On CC just the other day I read a post where the mother provided mace to her daughter who was a student in Massachusetts even though it is illegal to carry mace there. The poster was suggesting it to others.
As the father of a senior who has been accepted to UT among other schools, I was initially concerned having her attend a school surrounded by a bunch of gun toting students where alcohol flows freely and sophomoric behavior encouraged. However, the campus law appears to be very restrictive in who can carry (licensed, over 21, in a holster, etc) that I believe it will mostly be faculty and grad students (TA’s) packing.
I’m OK with that given the recent campus shootings (Umpqua CC, UCSB and Virginia Tech) plus UT’s very own incident back in 1966 where 16 kids were killed. In these incidents, campus police was ineffectual but perhaps if there had been an armed student/faculty member present the results may have been different. Also, given the fact that terrorists are constantly searching for “soft” targets, and have attacked schools in France, Russia and Africa, makes me understand why this law is necessary in today’s violent and dangerous world.
Also, note that this law does not apply to Texas private schools.
It’s telling that the private colleges are running away from this as quickly as they can. The public universities would if they could. But they’re given no choice by the stage legislature.
Then the question becomes, why this bill? And why now? Nobody on college campuses (faculty, administrators, campus police) have been calling for more students to begin carrying guns to class.
Feb 1 2016. A Georgia police officer taking classes in his spare time got an unwanted lesson from a college instructor last week, but now it is the school that is feeling blue – and apologizing. The unidentified cop was wearing his uniform and carrying his service gun when the Darton State College instructor reportedly became uncomfortable with his presence, according to WALB-TV. School officials confirmed the police officer was escorted out of the classroom, but did not elaborate.
“I find it a bit disturbing that someone would object to having an armed law enforcement officer in the classroom,” Tim Reichert, spokesman for the Southern States Police Benevolent Association, told the news site. “Much less, the very professor teaching the class.”
“Darton State College is appreciative for the service of our law enforcement, and welcome them as students on our campus. We have apologized to the officer for our misunderstanding when he attended class on our campus, and we regret this happened. We have met with the faculty and staff involved to reiterate the Georgia Law and Darton Policy.” - Dr. Thomas Ormond, Interim Provost/VP for Academic & Student Affairs, Darton State College
@SouthernHope Students for Concealed Carry advocated for the law change in Texas. The organization was started in response to the Virginia Tech shootings. So yes, some people wanted the change.
I think (my opinion only) that opponents did not take the bill and its prospects seriously.
Well somebody had to be first. The effect of this law on Texas public campus shootings will be closely watched by both sides, and Texas will either be an epic fail or epic triumph of the 2nd Amendment and other states will either emulate or mock Texas depending on the results. I think the most likely outcome is more accidental shootings and awkward social interactions between those who carry and people who know this about them. Concealed carry will alter the “vibe” of the campus for sure. Even if it’s unknown who has a gun, the fact that it’s a mystery creates tension. I don’t think underclassmen should fear interacting with upperclassmen who may or may not be carrying, and who may or may not be mentally stable. Sadly, the truth about mental stability is not known until it is too late.
On another thread, campus safety was a popular deal-breaker. I would be especially interested in whether the school has a right to ask students to declare whether they have a gun upon matriculation so they can monitor the numbers in aggregate. Will this question be on roommate selection forms? Kind of like choosing a “nonsmoker” roommate, can you also chose a “non-carrier?” I would not want my kid to be in a room with another kid who has a gun readily accessible in a 12x10 room.
Agree with @romanigypsyeyes. I would think guns will account for an increasing percentage of suicides while jumping will see a corresponding decrease.
Actually @PragmaticMom , there are now 5 states I believe that allow campus carry. I am not sure of any of the states, though I believe OR, UT and FL allow it. I am not sure if there is something about the Texas law that is making it more worthy of attention than the other states that allow it. Pretty soon, Iowa will decide if kids can have guns. Apparently the NRA is lobbying hard for that. Good thing they have the right priorities.
Texas is not first, though @PragmaticMom. University of Utah has had concealed carry since 2004, Colorado State University since 2003 and CU Boulder since 2012. The Colorado schools do not allow them in the dorms.
“Well, that proves that there is one professor in Georgia who is just as stupid on one side of the issue as the Texas legislature is on the other.”
Unfortunately, our two-party system does not lend itself to electing intelligent, reasonable people with moderate views to public office. I am wondering whether concealed carry is allowed in the Texas legislature. That would tell me if they really believe what they are saying or it is just political. I would be surprised if anyone will a permit can take a gun into the Texas legislature. I think the legislature probably just thinks it is a good rule for other peoples’ workplace, but not a good thing for their workplace.
Glad the rules are written that way, @Gator88NE. We can all feel relieved that college students always obey the law, that no one has ever carried both a gun and a beer at the same time, and that people never use guns for anything other than self-defense.
Not sure @Massmomm , but I really hope we see some interesting news stories about Texas students and their banned “toys” when they head back to college in September!
We have been fighting a proposed bill for several years in Florida. There have been discussion among faculty about adjusting not only the way that they teach but also about content that they may avoid in the future.
