Probably coming soon to most Texas colleges: more guns.
The Texas House of Representatives rushed to give initial approval Tuesday night to a controversial measure allowing licensed guns to be carried in most state university dorms, classrooms and buildings.
…
Even so, many of the state’s higher education leaders opposed the measure going into Tuesday. University of Texas System Chancellor William McRaven said he feared the measure would make the schools “less competitive” by scaring away prospective students, and possibly hiking tuitions to help handle more guns on school grounds.
After Tuesday’s vote, the measure is expected to get final approval Wednesday from the Republican-controlled House, return to the state Senate for possible changes and by June 1 go to Republican Gov. Greg Abbott, who is expected to sign it.
…
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/texas-house-abruptly-approves-campus-carry-law-article-1.2236912
drunk kids with guns - what could possibly go wrong!
The dorms part is very concerning. How are these weapons to be secured in the dorms? How do we know that procedures and safeguards will be conscientiously followed?
Who agrees to be financially responsible for injuries caused by failing to secure/improper use? Will the owners carry appropriate insurance?
What if a drunk/high student likes to walk around the dorms brandishing a gun? You know it’s going to happen and people will complain but there will be no real consequences except “hey don’t do that” and they’ll just keep doing it, making the dorm a living hell for everyone else (and their worried parents). For what you pay to live in a dorm no one should have to tolerate those kinds of living conditions - yet they will be forced to.
I mean, look how the Second Amendment activists behaved inside of legislators’ offices at the Capitol, with zero consequences. In fact their intimidation tactics have been rewarded by the LtGov and Gov.
What about:
- Accidental shootings?
- Suicide rate increase?
- Out of control disputes between students?
I think this law is going to backfire horribly if it passes.
When Oklahoma was considering a similar bill, one of the representatives on OU’s student government polled a variety of groups to find out their thoughts. The on campus police, ROTC, and president were all opposed to the measure.
But hey, as @iwannabebrown pointed out, drunk college kids and guns go well together. Just ask the local mortician.
Great idea - let’s put weapons closer to the future crime scene.
The part about scaring away prospective students is true. As much as I like the university I’m going to, I wouldn’t hesitate retracting my enrollment if the state approved something like this.
Oh looky, another reason to avoid Texas. No thanks!
So is there now a greater chance of a Freshman woman being raped (1 in 5) or being shot? IF the chance of being shot is less than that’s not the crime to worry about.
Well, I for one would be concerned that it isn’t an “either/or” situation, they could certainly take place together.
Will students be bringing big heavy gun safes to store guns in their dorms? Given how much stuff gets stolen out of dorms, one would not want to have guns that are easily stolen stored there.