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A bill that would allow people with a concealed handgun license to bring their gun on campus was discussed in the Senate State Affairs committee on April 27. SB 1164 would amend the Texas government code to give properly licensed individuals the right to have their concealed handguns with them in classrooms, dorm rooms and all other campus buildings.
"I don't want to see Texas students picked off like sitting ducks by some deranged madman as has happened on other campuses," said Senator Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, at the committee hearing. Wentworth's Senate bill is meant to mirror House Bill 1893 which made it out of its committee and is waiting for consideration by the full House. SB 1164 is still in committee.
"We simply want the same option of self defense as we already do off campus," said Michael Guzman the president of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus (SCCC) during his testimony before the Senate committee on April 22. The SCCC is a nationwide organization that is attempting to influence legislation to allow people with concealed handgun licenses to take their guns with them to campus.
"What we want to see done away with is the government guarantee to criminals that we are left defenseless, that we'll be unarmed," said Guzman during his testimony.
To get a concealed handgun license in Texas, the applicant must be over 21, be of sound mind, be qualified to buy a gun and must take a 10 to 15 hour course. In Texas, people with a concealed handgun license can take their handgun with them to most places such as movie theaters, malls and other public spaces. Organizations like the SCCC would like to add college campuses to that list.
"I think it is a terrible idea. I'm not even sure why they are considering [allowing guns on campus]," said John Woods, a University of Texas Graduate student as he waited for his chance to speak before the Senate committee on April 27. Woods was a student at Virginia Tech during the deadly shooting in 2007, and now feels that allowing people to carry guns on campus would not make colleges safer.
"I've spoken to survivors and they have all said the same thing, 'Guns would not have helped. It all happened too quickly,'" said Woods. He feels that when legislators like Wentworth try to find ways to deal with mass shootings like the one at Virginia Tech they should concentrate on prevention and not just reaction.
"Mental health I think is a really important component to a safe campus. The shooter at Virginia Tech was actually referred to seek treatment," said Woods. "He was triaged and sent away. You have to ask if we would be talking about this today if they [counselors] had done their jobs - if they had had the funds to do their job."
Woods would rather legislators spend more time on bills that would make it harder for people with mental health problems to buy guns than simply allowing more people with guns in campus buildings.
The ACC administration has already made clear that it is against allowing concealed handguns on campus. In a letter sent to Representative Maldonado, D-Round Rock, Dr. Stephen Kinslow, ACC president, and Nan McRaven, Chairperson of the Board of Trustees, urged Maldonado to oppose the House Bill that would allow guns on college campuses.
One of the concerns listed in the letter was that ACC campuses often have charter schools, early college high schools, numerous dual credit students and early childhood programs with young children as young as five and six years old.
"A law which allows handguns will be in direct conflict with the laws which govern operation of the charter schools, early college high schools and other high school environments on our campuses," said the letter.
The letter also quotes the stance of the Texas Association of College and University Police Administrators, which is that "the proposed changes to existing statutes … would further dilute the efforts of campus law enforcement to provide for the safety and security of the communities we have sworn to protect."
A number of organizations have come out against the handgun bills including a number of student government organizations, most notably at the University of Texas.
The ACC Student Government has not yet taken up the issue of allowing handguns on campus, but it probably will at its next meeting, said Joshua Bacak the new Student Body President. Bacak says that, speaking as a student with a concealed handgun license, he believes it is a serious issue that should be considered carefully.
"It would cause more harm than good to be able to carry a weapon on campus," said Bacak when expressing his personal opinion. "Even if I was allowed to bring it on campus, I probably wouldn't."
"Instead of having [concealed handguns] allowed on campus I would like to see … better trained enforcement or more police enforcement on campus," said Bacak. "We shouldn't have a problem with guns on campus if we have enough police officers to properly handle the situations."
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