Texas State Students Respond to Guns on Campus

Texas State Students Respond to Guns on Campus

By JEFF BROWN            July 12, 15

SAN MARCOS – Students and faculty at Texas State University stand divided on a decision made by the Texas Legislature to approve Senate Bill 11, also known as the ‘Campus Carry Bill.’

Republican Gov. Greg Abbott is expected to sign the bill into law, which would take effect August 2016 at all Texas universities. Those in support of the bill claim it will make campuses safer by allowing licensed gun owners to carry their weapons and interfere should an attack occur.

"With all the events and functions that Texas State has, people could be in danger and should protect themselves,” freshman Jessica Hartsook said.

Chelsea Cantu

The Second Amendment guarantees American citizens the right to own and bear firearms, not only for personal protection, but also for use in a militia.

 “They should be able to protect other students and staff,” said Chelsea Cantu of Austin, Texas.

Following the attack on a military recruitment office in Chattanooga, Tennessee last week, the gun control issue faces increased scrutiny.

“Unfortunately, any shooting is a threat at any time or place. It’s one of those events that can happen anywhere. In this country, they can happen at elementary schools and even, recently, recruitment centers,” senior Matthew Hamill said.

Not all students think allowing guns on campus will help, however. Texas will be one of only eight other states to allow those with a concealed handgun license to carry their weapons on campus.

“I am against guns on campus. I don’t see a need for it. If you feel so threatened in the world that you have to arm yourself, then that is more of an internal issue. You could potentially hurt or even end someone’s life,” said Andres Davila, Texas State senior.

For some, though, the situation is not so black and white.

Benjamin Sagaloff

“It’s operating under the assumption that random people (or the average person) can employ a gun effectively in a tense or dangerous type of situation,” said Benjamin Sagaloff, Texas State student and U.S. Army veteran.

Which begs the question, is this bill about protecting civil liberties or about defending against a mass shooting?

“I think with the required license it will make the law good, if the law didn’t require a licensed weapon the law would be wrong,” freshman Kevin Salazai said.

If the bill is, in fact, about defending against a shooter on campus, focus shifts to the current requirements for obtaining a license. Are they comprehensive enough to prepare gun-carriers for these types of situations?

“I went through the class for my CHL and saw the type of people who got the half-day of training required for it,” Sagaloff said. “No matter how much training you receive, everything changes the second a bullet flies by your head and you see someone get shot in front of you. In the Army I saw people with years of experience in training and crumble when the s**t actually happens, THAT’S the game changer.”

Alexander Villalobos

Currently the state of Texas does not require any scenario-based training that might prepare licensees for a shootout.

“In comparison to law enforcement officers being trained, and the hours that they put in for training, and the hours that are required by this licensing; and then going on to the physiological effects of being in a stressful situation,” said Alexander Villalobos, sergeant for the University Police Department. “At some point I would imagine under consideration of the legislature they are going to have to consider the exposure of those types of situations and how people are going to react. I think they have considered it to some extent and I think that’s the reason why they’re giving time to structure this particular law in a way that’s going to be sensitive to campuses all over Texas.”

Whether the bill is about deterring a mass shooter or potentially stopping an attack, the rules put into place will apply to everyone in the eyes of the law.

“In the profession, we swear to uphold those particular laws that are implemented, and as they are constructed, and as they are structured for enforcement. Whatever comes up September 2016, we will enforce it,” Villalobos said.