Campus Firearm Bill Passes Senate

A bill that would allow college students and employees to carry their concealed handguns on campus passed the Senate Wednesday on a 19-12 vote. The measure has been the subject of previous posts. 

The bill, sponsored by Sen. Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio), would permit college students who are at least 21 and licensed to carry concealed handguns to bring those weapons into campus buildings. Sen. Wentworth has stated repeatedly that he introduced the bill because of the 2007 massacre at Virginia Tech.

According to an amendment, university hospitals and athletic facilities would remain gun-free zones. Public institutions would not have a choice in the matter at the local level. The bill, SB 1164, applies to all universities and colleges in the Texas, but private institutions would be able to opt out.

The bill now goes back to the House, where a companion measure died last week by missing a preliminary deadine. Legislative rules do allow the House to take up the new Senate version if they get it done before midnight Tuesday.

A link providing legislative contact information is available under TCCTA "Legislative Resources."

From an article by Janet Elliott in the Houston Chronicle:

Exactly half of the House members, 75 of 150, have signed on as supporters of the bill, a legislative priority of the Texas State Rifle Association, an affiliate of the National Rifle Association.

Only 11 U.S. universities allow handguns on campus. In Texas, college students are split on the issue and several university administrators have expressed reservation.

Sen. Leticia Van de Putte, D-San Antonio, tried to amend the bill to allow all schools to opt in if their governing boards wanted to allow concealed guns on campus. Colorado took that approach, she said, with some universities allowing guns and others not.

“This is a common-sense approach to the concealed handgun issue. Allow local control,” she said. Her amendment was defeated.

Katie Kasprzak, a recent graduate of Texas State University, testified in favor of the bill before legislative committees.

She completed the required course and shooting test to get licensed to carry a concealed weapon, but wasn’t able to carry it at night when she walked alone on campus.

“If someone wants to protect themselves, they should be guaranteed that right whether they are on a college campus,” said Kasprzak.

Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, said the bill could confuse university police, who now know that a person with a gun on campus is violating the law.

“When there is an alcohol-related tragedy on campus, you don’t hear claims that giving students a 12-pack is the solution,” he said.

“Yet, when it comes to gun-related incidents, we seem to think that putting more guns in the mix will lead to a good, rather than bloody outcome,” Ellis said.