Open Carry Law on Texas Campuses

Open Carry Law on Texas Campuses 

By: James Cox 

Texas Governor Gregg Abbot signed SB11, known as “campus carry,” which authorizes licensed individuals to carry a concealed handgun on public campuses. Abbot worked with Texas legislators to pass two bills regarding citizen’s Second Amendment rights to hold and bear arms effective August 1, 2016. According to Breitbart News, Governor Abbot was proud of the legislation passed: 

Photo by Breitbart Texas/Bob Price

“Today I am proud to expand liberty in the Lone Star State,” said Governor Abbott. “By signing these bills into law, Texans can be assured that their Second Amendment rights will be stronger and more secure than ever before.”

Students and Staff at Texas State had mixed reactions to the passage of the “campus carry” bill. Chelsea Cantu, a 23-year-old Austin native, and psychology and social work major, supports the passage. 

Photo by Juliana Reel

“In some way I would feel more safe, in some ways not safe. If I had my concealed license, I would carry my own gun,” said Cantu. 

Janet Vela, a full-time bio-chemistry major, also supports SB11. 

“If you want to have one and you go through the process to get one, then it should be fine if it is used responsibly,” Vela said. “I think that we are all adults here and should be able to make our own choices. I think that as long as people follow the law, it should be fine.” 

However, the experienced Dr. Brennan, who specializes in post-1945 United States history, does not believe allowing college-aged kids to carry concealed weapons on campus is benefiting public safety. 

“I have seen kids with their emotions out of control who stay up all night with red bull during finals week, high strung and emotional and we are handing them a weapon,” Said Brennan. “It is not safe.” 

Photo by Trevor Frank

Ruben Garcia, forensic anthropology major, does not support SB11. 

“I feel college students are still too young to have a license for a gun, especially around so many other kids and different influences,” said Garcia. 

Abdul Nono, a freshman who moved from Saudi Arabia and studies industrial engineering, also disagrees with SB11. 

“I don’t think it would be safe for students to have guns on campus. Even with the right training and education it is a bad idea. Police should be the only ones with guns and they go through much more training,” said Nono. “It will have a negative impact because campus will be a more dangerous place.” 

According to the Rodney Ellis' website, the Texas Senator said college campuses are no place for lethal weapons.

Photo by Harry Cabluck, STF

"To those who say campus carry preserves our Second Amendment right to bear arms, I disagree, and I'm in good company. Our founding fathers knew guns had no place on campuses almost 200 years ago, just as they shouldn't be there today," said Senator Ellis. "This is not a constitutional issue. This is an issue of ensuring our young people have a safe place of higher learning as they grow from childhood to adulthood. The fact that Thomas Jefferson and the drafter of the Bill of Rights, James Madison, established these rules is pretty conclusive: guns have no place on our state's college campuses."