Breaking News
I Bet No One Messes With Texas Schools Now
- University of Texas President Gregory Fenves approved on Wednesday to allow students to carry concealed handguns on campus if they have the permit.
- Critics say that guns on the college campus will hurt their freedom of speech, by making people scared to speak their mind.
- In 2015, the Texas Legislature passed a bill to allow guns within buildings on public college campuses in the state.
(CNN) Students at the University of Texas at Austin will soon be allowed to carry handguns on campus.
University of Texas President Gregory Fenves approved Wednesday the guidelines for gun owners in light of a recently passed state law allowing guns on campuses.
“I have thoroughly reviewed the policy recommendations of the Campus Carry Working Group and decided to adopt them,” Fences said. “Under the law, I cannot adopt a policy that has the general effect of excluding licensed concealed handguns from campus.”
In 2015, the Republican-led Texas Legislature voted to allow guns within buildings on public college campuses throughout the state.
The bill requires a university president to adopt and implement the law. Open carry on campus is still prohibited. According to the University of Texas at Austin, since the law says you have to be 21 before applying for a concealed carry license, fewer than 1% of students will qualify for a license to carry a concealed weapon in classrooms or academic buildings.
Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Utah, Wisconsin and Oregon also allow students to carry concealed handguns on campus. In Georgia, lawmakers are also considering on Thursday a measure that would allow guns on college campuses.
But the move by the University of Texas is controversial. In October, CNN reported more than 280 professors and counting have signed a petition calling the new legislation a “direct assault on our free speech rights.”
The possibility of guns in the classroom is going to “interfere with students’ free speech in the classroom,” a place already often tense when certain issues are raised, said Ellen Spiro, professor at UT’s Department of Radio-TV-Film and co-founder of the newly formed Gun Free UT.
17 Comments
If everyone had a concealed carry permit and actually carried a weapon there would be a whole lot less shootings. You would know that everyone had a weapon, not just you. Kind of like the Ole West Days.
I am a college professor. I would LOVE to be able to carry at my university. Gun free zones become slaughter zones if/when the unthinkable happens. My university has an active shooter plan that includes hiding in locked rooms, but NO faculty are given the keys to lock the lecture rooms. Students with CCWs would give me peace of mind!
To whom it may concern:
Hire armed school guards,not students. Then what will the University have to pay out if one these students becomes emotionally disturbed, and hurts,maims or kills other students and faculty members. And whats to prevent the students who have guns from going on a rampage killing innocent students and faculty members. This is not a fix it for a potential problem, but rather an exaggerated
response to a problem that might occur. I don’t want to be a dooms day prophet here, but, i sense that in the future at these Universities that allow students to be armed there will be a calamity, and sadly I will say “I told you’s so!!! Peace Live long, live wisely….MASA-4-Ever7
To whom it may concern:
Hire armed school guards,not students. Then what will the University have to pay out if one these students becomes emotionally disturbed, and hurts,maims or kills other students and faculty members. And whats to prevent the students who have guns from going on a rampage killing innocent students and faculty members. This is not a fix it for a potential problem, but rather an exaggerated
response to a problem that might occur. I don’t want to be a dooms day prophet here, but, i sense that in the future at these Universities that allow students to be armed there will be a calamity, and sadly I will say “I told you’s so!!! Peace Live long, live wisely….MASA-4-Ever7
Gun free zones attract criminal behavior. A lot of terrorism has happened in Gun free zones. Lets eliminate all the Gun free zones.
It will be better to protect ones-self and others, as weapons,are all ready available to those who decide to have them anyway.
The only time that guns endanger the freedom of speech is when they are used by the wrong people, whether privately or in government. Altering the Constitution will not help. I have the right to protect myself and others from those wrong people, whether in private or in government.
Yeah, that’s all fine and good until one of the students turns a gun on another. IDIOTIC!!!! Only TEXAS could be so STUPID!!!!!
Open carry would be better, that way the person (idiot) that was going to attack you, may not if he see your are ready to protect yourself.
Also I think a Pistol Permit to carry should be recognized in all States like your Drivers License, because you are registered in your home State, and both have your picture on them.
Congress has made our schools shooting Galleries. Stupid people or crooks or what ever you want to call them don’t listen to or care about LAWS passed by Congress. They just go in a shooting or stabbing with a knife. The only thing a BAD Guy with a Gun understands anything is a GOOD GUY with a GUN! Take the Gun out of a Bad guy had and he is nothing except a looser!
I’m somewhat of a Pacifist,, but not when it comes to protecting my Family, my Neighbors,
my Friends, or myself,,, We are US Air Force strong,, and can do what’s necessary in our community.. Kill or be killed is not an option for us….. Like it or not ,, this is NOT nor ever
will be the Barack, Hillary, Bernies United Socialist States of America… ! — Wake up and educate these young high school and college wanna-be Liberals about Communism..
I don’t think students should be allowed to have guns on campus period. The only tning they would do if they got mad at some one, the first thing they would is to pull out the gun and soot.
YES I APPROVE THIS 100% THEY NEED TO BE ABLE TO PROTECT THEMSELVES FROM THE RADICAL MUSLIMS AND THE BLACK LIVES MATTER FOOLS….AS WELL AS THE BLACK PANTHERS……
today each person should be able to protect themselves and their familys
The only ones that will Have Guns Will Be The Crimals
Great Girlscout and Boyscout motto..Always be prepared!
I would rather blow the puke away, and be tried by 12, than be carried by 6 !!!