REUTERS
The Texas Senate on Thursday approved a measure to allow licensed handguns on college campuses, part of a series of bills being considered that would expand gun rights.
Lawmakers in the Republican-dominated statehouse have made gun rights a top priority, a move analysts said indicates a harder turn to the right for the most populous state under Republican control.
In a vote along party lines, the state Senate approved the bill, which will be sent to the House.
“My concern is to expand freedom of the most trustworthy citizens to access property they as citizens of this state own,” said Senator Brian Birdwell, a Republican sponsor of the legislation.
Backers said having more guns on campus from licensed owners over 21 would offer additional protection and is needed after mass shootings at educational facilities across the country. The bill would allow private colleges and universities to opt out.
Opponents, who include some university presidents and law enforcement officials, said it would increase the chances of innocent people being shot.
“There is great concern that the presence of handguns, even if limited to licensed individuals age 21 or older, will lead to an increase in both accidental shootings and self-inflicted wounds,” University of Texas System Chancellor William McRaven wrote to lawmakers this year.
McRaven, a retired Navy admiral, led the U.S. Special Operations Command until 2014 and organized the raid that killed al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden. McRaven said he was concerned about the safety of the more than 210,000 students and 9,000 faculty and staff in the University of Texas system.
According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, seven states have provisions allowing the carrying of concealed weapons on public postsecondary campuses.
The Texas Senate earlier this month passed a measure that allows those who have state concealed handgun permits to carry their weapons openly in holsters.
Support for the bill is strong in the Republican-controlled House.
Some Republican lawmakers are seeking even more, such as a measure to allow Texans to carry handguns in public without obtaining a permit.
(Reporting by Jon Herskovitz; Editing by Doina Chiacu and Bill Trott)
18 comments:
Soon we'll have shoot outs -at the Brownsville campuses. "I feared for my life" will be the usual defense . The Republican Party in Texas is completely out of control.
Why not?
The Cartels and the zetas jump the fence from Mexico, and kidnap student forcing them to drive them to Whatajoins?
These gun bills are all about Republicans pandering to the gun lobby and trying to look like they are protecting our constitutional rights.
If it is so important to be arming everyone can we expect to see Republican state officials wearing side arms when in session?
If students,staff and faculty with Texas issued Concealed Handgun Licenses, can carry a gun at HEB, the Mall, What-A-Burger and Stripes, they should be able to carry it on campus as well.
People with these licenses have been fingerprinted, background checked, trained in the proper use of firearms and knowledgeable about the laws of Texas regarding the use of firearms. The campus will be a much safe place if these people are allowed to carry their handguns.
The left wing faculty are against it, not for any real safety issues, just on an ideological basis. My response to such ideology is piss on them.
One may very well save your life. CHL holders are not outlaws and criminals, those already have guns on campus. A crazed person acts in seconds 911 will be at your aid in a few minutes.
The vast majority of the states have concealed handgun licences that allow their citizens to protect themselves and others. Texas joined these states about 20 years ago. At the time all sorts of people opposed the move and predicted a spree of old west shootouts in the streets and stores. Calmer heads prevailed with plenty of statistics and information from others states to show that such anti-gun hysteria was just not based on facts.
Since Texas passed it's concealed handgun licencees laws, crime has not increased, but it has dropped dramatically. There has not been one school shooting in the country by a holder of such a license. On the contrary, schools, colleges and universities have become gun free zones where crazy people can kill others without fear that somebody has a gun and can stop them.
This is a good law and will make our campuses safer for all.
When the Tx legislature is in session, life and limb are at peril. We have a lot of Nuts in the state houses; they are called Republicans .
the students at utrgv are not mature enough to carry. if they were mature enough they would leave home live on their own and attend a real university in anothet part of the state.
these kids are inmature dependant and irresponsible!
If students,staff and faculty with Texas issued Concealed Handgun Licenses, can carry a gun at HEB, the Mall, What-A-Burger and Stripes, they should be able to carry it on campus as well.
People with these licenses have been fingerprinted, background checked, trained in the proper use of firearms and knowledgeable about the laws of Texas regarding the use of firearms. The campus will be a much safe place if these people are allowed to carry their handguns.
AGREE!!! AGREE!!!! AGREE!!!!
The left wing faculty are against it, not for any real safety issues, just on an ideological basis.
AGREE!!!! AGREE!!!! AGREE!!!
People who claim that students are not mature enough to carry just show their ignorance regarding CHL laws.
Shoot -out at Adams St. College students get into an argument , all armed to the teeth at the local cantina. Dozen wounded, sent to the hospital !
As a boy, I used to watch my father & grandfather carry guns with them in the glove compartment and at home all the time. I've never though twice about it. Now that I have a family of my own, I want to protect them. Unfortunately, random violence can happen anywhere in public places now that you wouldn't have seen maybe 20 years ago. My family's safety is my responsibility and I hope I never have to use my gun. But it is better to have a gun and not need it than to need a gun a not have it.
To promote a safe city environment Da Mayot will propose that all citizens can Porte a heater. A good idea of Da Mayor in Action .!
As a faculty member who has taught night classes, been the last one to leave and walk to my car across a dark abandoned campus, a stone's throw from the river, I sure would like to have a gun with me!
If students are immature, irresponsible, the ones to blame are the ones that raise them. Parents if you want to enable your kids is your fault and your fault only for not letting them grow. Shame on parents that still spoon feed their 21plus students!
Illegally armed.......criminals dont care about laws........
Having served 2 tours in Iraq,carrying a bazooka and a side arm saved my life !
The legislators in "Osting" will be carrying heat while in session. This way they can shoot each other when not in agreement. From the secret files of the NRA .
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