The recent killings at Oikos University, a small school in Oakland, California, have prompted a renewed debate over whether concealed handguns should be allowed on campus.
A bill that would have allowed licensed carriers over 21 (or younger military personnel) to bring their concealed weapons into campus buildings failed to pass during the last Regular Session. TCCTA testified against the bill, after a survey of members revealed 80 percent opposition.
"Ultimately, the legislation was hamstrung by arguments that its passage could cause insurance costs at universities to rise—an argument that supporters of the bill had not anticipated. This prompted two key Democratic senators to pull their support in a dramatic showdown on the Senate floor," according to a recent article in the Texas Tribune by Reeve Hamilton.
During testimony, some of the most effective opponents were campus police officers who worried that they might not be able to distinguish between a good guy and the shooter in a chaotic situation.
The 2011 bill's author, Sen. Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio), has reportedly not decided whether to sponsor a bill on the subject in the forthcoming Regular Session, which begins in January 2013.
A national organization called Students for Concealed Carry has been staging demonstrations by wearing empty holsters on campus. The article reports that Texas A&M and Texas Tech have been the most popular sites in Texas for student activism on this issue.
The piece gives examples of both perspectives. Opinions seem to depend upon competing scenarios of what might happen in the event of threatened or actual violence. Those in rural areas might also disagree with individuals from large cities.
The 2011 bill would not have allowed institutional discretion in choosing whether to permit concealed weapons. TCCTA leaders and others recommended this option as a possible alternative approach.
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