TxTiger says:
Wed, 23rd Feb 201112:24 pm 

I'd just like to clarify a couple things, that you may even already be aware of. First of all, this new law will not allow any random student to carry a concealed handgun on school campuses. This privilege will only extend to persons over 21 who possess a CCL (concealed carry license). In order to obtain this permit (I plan on doing so in the state of Texas after my 21st birthday next month) you have to attend classes that teach you the ins and outs of firearm laws in your state and test you on your ability to handle your firearm safely and effectively. BUT, most important of all, I would say that around 80% of the class focuses on non-violent conflict resolution, or ways you can diffuse a problem BEFORE it becomes physical.

I understand guns in general are a very politicized topic, but the bottom line is that the people who will be able to carry firearms on campus if this law passes have been taught when it is and isn't appropriate to resort to such a drastic measure and most likely applied for a CCL because they wanted to be better equipped to protect themselves and those around them. Although there are always exceptions, I feel very comfortable stating that 99% of the people with CCLs are not the type to get drunk at a frat party and shoot their friend over a petty argument. I really hope this passes in Texas and spreads to nearby states, like where I attend college. I know I'll feel a little bit safer that I won't have to rely on just campus police should something as tragic happen at my campus as it did at VT or UT.

Li23 says:
Wed, 23rd Feb 20114:41 pm 

I agree with above poster, not just anyone gets to carry a gun, there are specific classes you must take and numerous background checks you have to go through in order to obtain a concealed weapons permit. If you've gotten into any trouble previously or have mental health problems it is unlikely you will get one.
And the law specifically prohibits possession of a deadly weapon while under the influence of alcohol… and how many parties are actually on campus anyway? Even a lot of frat houses are located off-site.
I am 23 and I havea gun for homw protection and I got my concealed weapons permit because I walk to my destinations a lot.
The time when I wish I had my gun with me most is when I'm walking to school because I often take night classes, school is located downtown, and the walking path around the school is notorious for violence and sexual assault.
Any psycho that wants to shoot up a campus would likely think twice if they know the students can fight fire with fire.

Anony Mouse says:
Wed, 23rd Feb 20114:59 pm 

Ray Hunt, the 2nd vice-presi­dent of the Houston Police Officers' Union, the largest police union in the state of Texas, spoke out in favor of legalizing licensed concealed carry (of handguns) on Texas college campuses and dismissed the notion that the presence of armed citizens would somehow cause chaos or confusion during or following a campus shooting. Halso mentioned that the union had been originally fairly anti-CHL, fearing shootings of CHL-holder­s by police amongst other things. Upon seeing that that hadn't occurred at all, they were happy to throw their support behind the concept of CHL in general, and they now specifical­ly support concealed-­carry on campus.

So when the largest group of Police in the State endorses it, as they have had experience with licensees if they pull one over for a burned out brake light ticket or whatever, if THEY endorse it , and they do, it should pass.

"I feel perfectly safe with UTPD doing their jobs"

If you want to "feel" safe, wear a rabbit's foot. If you want to "be" safe, wear a 45.

It is my contention that on FRIDAY the 13th of April 2007, everyone FELT secure at Virginia Tech …. Monday the 16th was another story.

Obviously “gun free zones” never worked. (Luby’s, U.T.-twice­, hundreds of other school shootings.­)

One must wonder why Nidal Hassan chose the “gun-free” area of Fort Hood instead of the gun range on base to start his escapades.

Most shooting incidents were
not resolved by law enforcemen­t
interventi­on.More than half of the
attacks ended before law enforcemen­t
responded to the scene—
despite law enforcemen­t’s often
prompt response. In these cases,
faculty or fellow students stopped
the attacker, or the attacker either
stopped shooting on his own or
committed suicide…

First responders are "usually bystanders­" like in Tucson
So in school settings, "first responders­" are usually students, faculty and staff, whether armed, or "unarmed, impotent, outmatched­, and deceased," like several in Virginia.

UT Longhorn says:
Wed, 23rd Feb 20115:31 pm 

I go to UT Austin and while I agree with your stance, I have to admit that it really wasn't well researched and that last little comment at the end kind of snarky. It's hard to be taken seriously on such a serious topic when you throw in a condescending, close minded comment at the end. Like I said, I agree, guns on campus are not something I'm into but you just didn't address all sides of the issue. If you're going to cover something this serious, take it seriously, this isn't just another article about college dating.

TxTiger says:
Wed, 23rd Feb 20115:47 pm 

In response to UTStudent, I respect that you disagree about having handguns on a campus, but your comparison of DARE classes to training courses for a CCL isn't very fair. Unless a person is already suffering from mental illness/imbalance or is under the influence they probably aren't going to think shooting people is "fun", nor will they be under extreme peer pressure to go out and do something like that, unlike drinking or using drugs where friends can convince you to "just try it" or you realize the good feeling you get from being tipsy or high outweighs the risks of engaging in those behaviors. Owning a gun doesn't automatically make you crazy or a murderer.

alexandra says:
Wed, 23rd Feb 20115:54 pm 

this is my view: the psychos are going to bring guns whether they're allowed or not. i would rather a no-psycho has one as well. the end.

criolle johnny says:
Wed, 23rd Feb 20116:53 pm 

YOU feel perfectly safe and perfectly comfortable putting your life and your security in the hands of the police. UT's president has no qualms about making that same decision for his students and other citizens who decide to walk on HIS campus.
No.

beth says:
Wed, 23rd Feb 20118:20 pm 

LIke several previous posters stated, only students with a CWP (concealed wagons permit) would be allowed to carry. In order to get a CWP, not only do you have to have a gun safety class, qualify on the shooting range, and submit your finger prints to SLED, (where a full criminal background check is run before they issue the CWP,) you have to abide by certain rules. No guns where alcohol is served…IE Frat houses. I've been a CWP holder for nearly a year, and working at a bank, that has been robbed on multiple occasions, I feel much safer knowing that I'm armed, and if someone is threatening my life, I can defend it. Perhaps YOU should have read up on concealed carry qualifications before writing this uneducated article that follows the thought process of so many "idealists" who clearly don't live in the real world. Shootings like the Virginia Tech one could have been far less devastating, had a student or professor been able to carry concealed, and taken out the monster before he could do as much damage as he did.

Jenna says:
Thu, 24th Feb 20111:40 am 

This is insane, it is just creating an atmosphere of fear on a school campus, you shouldn't wake up in the morning with the anticipation that you could get shot, it should not even be something that crosses your mind! This is almost producing a constant state of war but its not even a war against a tangible enemy its a war against fear. Instead of bringing more firearms into the mix, eliminate them entirely, that is the solution that works in so many other countries, it sickens me that some parts of the United States are so self-involved that they can't look past their own shores for a genuine solution.

Anne says:
Thu, 24th Feb 201111:09 am 

I honestly don't see what the big deal is, it is not as if they want you to be able to carry a gun in high school or something. College students and teachers are ADULTS, and 'college' is not just 'school'. It is a place that you, as an adult, have to live (or live very close to), many campuses are enormous and things like rape, sexual assault, and muggings do occur. As an ADULT in the United States it is your right to carry a weapon (if you qualify to do so, and the steps you have to take seem very sensible to me) and I see no reason why being on a campus should strip you of that right.

UTStudent says:
Thu, 24th Feb 20111:00 pm 

True, it doesn't completely compare, but it's just an example. With all the stress going on in this campus, you never know when someone may snap. I don't know…I guess I just don't like the feeling of having someone sitting next to me in class with a gun. I personally find that scary, but that's just my opinion.

Josh Flynn says:
Thu, 24th Feb 201110:09 pm 

Security is just a phone call away. Everyone has a cellphone right…so what’s the big deal when the crazies start shooting the police will come and save you right? I would be more worried about someone who knows how to use a gun and can aim accurately from their training for a CHL than a crazy who would probably miss everyone they are shooting at because they are not trained. The police should be able to get there in a couple of minutes so I wouldn't worry about the crazy person shooting willy-nilly into a classroom the bullets only travel at 1,200 feet per second and the police will be there to save you. How many rounds can someone fire off in a couple of minutes anyway 30 or 40? With a hit ratio of 1 in 3 I'm sure you wouldn't be that one or I guess that would be 10 or 14…hmmm, maybe the nut case that cares enough to legally carry a weapon might be a little more accurate and is right there to help out hmmm. Seems to me that if the real lunatic knew he would be put down in short order they wouldn't bring their illegal weapon on campus. hmmm…just saying

Stephanie says:
Fri, 25th Feb 201110:49 am 

My professor told us about this in class (American Government). Because it could turn into a thing where, Texas allows guns, so to feel protected other campus' start allowing guns. Personally, I go to a small college in a rural area and if we started allowing people to have guns–the smallest drama would probably end up with someone killed. I feel like it is a lose-lose situation, because you would save some lives if there was a shooter like at Virginia Tech, but you'd also have those careless people.

Patricia says:
Wed, 2nd Mar 20112:33 pm 

I feel sorry for the USA citizens. I can't understand why public shootings are so common in your country. In Chile, my homecountry, stuff like that hardly ever happens.

Beth says:
Thu, 3rd Mar 201112:28 am 

But can we commit to these "responsible" people are certified to carry guns to not lose their head in the heat of the moment or in anger? The fact is, human nature always means mistakes will be made and things will not be thought through thoroughly. Having a gun around just makes it a convenient resource to wield. People who are certified to carry these guns on college campuses may lose their temper and shoot. At the end of the day, these people who are allowed to carry guns on college campuses are still human, and because of that they should not be allowed to freely carry them. It doesn't matter if they've been taught in their gun safety classes, they could go forget all that in one "human" moment and kill someone, even if they didn't mean it. Guns create the presence of available resources for people to die. I understand that people over 21 are allowed the right to carry guns, but on a college campus, a public resource provided for students to come to learn? It should not be a hazardous zone. If the legislature wants to prevent college shootings, then up college safety/police. Why add more fuel to the fire?

Beth says:
Thu, 3rd Mar 201112:33 am 

Also, we're taught to not drink excessively, not do drugs, be respectful, be mannerful, be humble, virtuous, open-minded, be perfect. BUT how many of us are actually like that? Just because these certified people are taking classes that preach gun safety, doesn't necessarily mean they'll follow them. A student could easily plot a campus shooting by pretending and acting, especially if he has a clean record. Also, most people who are allowed to enter college already have a clean record, which makes it all the more easier for guns to come onto campus and potentially be used to massacre students.

Shanise_Speaks says:
Sat, 5th Mar 201110:15 am 

Wow…Sometimes I'm glad I live up North, we may have snow but we also are making strides in gun policy and safety! Yes in the event of a shooting it would be nice for first responders to have guns but unless your campus is the 'wild west' I'm sure this doesn't happen everyday! The most action our campus gets is we usually have one car accident a week (usually in the parking lot, fender-benders) and if those students were allowed to have guns…(I work right by the parking lot and parking issues usually end up in heated arguements) I've been in a parking lot arguement and I wouldn't want that to end with me staring down gun!! This is a recipe for disaster! Any amount of training you get will be pushed aside by anger in an instant.

Bill Powers says:
Sat, 5th Mar 20115:40 pm 

Wow. You got a "Concealed Wagons Permit"? That's amazing. I bet those bank robbers are running scared knowing that you've got a big bad wagon burning a hole in your pocket. Well, I honestly hope they approve it knowing people like you would have your wagon on campus, I would feel so much more safe.

Someothername says:
Sat, 5th Mar 20117:35 pm 

Here’s the problem in Texas:

Motor Vehicle Burglary crimes have steadily increased on all campuses.

Why?

Criminals KNOW that at Walmart, church, malls, everywhere “people” go. CHLs carry their guns with them, but on CAMPUS parking lots, they have to leave them in the car. this creates a better FARM, for a more productive HARVEST of guns criminals want. So, that’s where they “shop”

Licensees can be armed in city libraries, but on campus we prefer to create a situation of giving easy access to guns to criminals?
That doesn’t make sense.

Current policy requires that Licensees can carry their gun all over Campus, but must store it in their car while in a class or Library or building.

Vehicle burglaries are on the rise at all campuses, this is where you currently have to store your gun, allowing easier access to criminals.
Criminals who will use your gun to commit other crimes.
70% of gun crimes are committed with stolen guns.

You prefer to promote the “status quo” of providing easier access to guns on campus property for criminals?

Although no one in class reached into my pants to grab whatever is concealed in there, that my car HAS been burglarized and the contents stolen, and that’s where you want my gun stored?

Let the responsible adults who carry everywhere else safely carry their concealed weapon inside their holster inside their pants retained by a reinforced belt and stop providing easy access to guns for criminals on campuses which they can use in other crimes.

The Texas bill needs to pass, it’s just common sense.

Someothername says:
Sat, 5th Mar 20117:46 pm 

Beth, you misunderstand.
"makes it all the more easier for guns to come onto campus"

The same guns are ALREADY on campus, but currently we must store them in cars instead of safe and secured in a holster retained by a reinforced belt.

This bill does not "increase the number of guns on campus" but it allows us to keep them secure instead of in our cars for hours whil vehicles on campus get burglarized, providing easy access to guns for criminals..

Someothername says:
Sat, 5th Mar 20117:50 pm 

"A student could easily plot a campus shooting by pretending and acting,"

He could do that unlicensed.

There’s really nothing stopping an UNLICENSED person like Colton or others who were suicidal from bringing guns on campus now so you want to prohibit law abiding rational adults from being able to protect themselves from those suicidal crazies like George Hennard who killed 23 people, shot 20 more prior to committing suicide? Where did you take logic?

Are you accidentally or on purpose grouping a group who took the time and trouble and spent a LOT of money, hundreds and hundreds of dollars to be able to carry. People who never got in trouble for saying bad words, never got in trouble for playing music too loud (misdemeanors which disqualify you from being licensed) with suicidals and crazies and criminals?

You can't group all gun owners, and especially all licensees, into the same lump as all crazies/criminals/mass murders.That's being a bit like saying all Jews are stingy, all B?lacks are fast runners, all … I resent that.

Someothername says:
Sat, 5th Mar 20117:54 pm 

And how often does that occur in Texas Churches, Malls, Grocery Stores, Theaters, WalMarts, and everywhere these same people carry that will be carrying theirs into buildings instead of storing them cars on campus for criminals to take?

Someothername says:
Sat, 5th Mar 20118:02 pm 

"we also are making strides in gun policy and safety!"

We are trying too also, but the ignorance and propaganda is making it tough.
After the bill passes, Faculty, Staff, Grad students won't be forced to store guns in cars for criminal;s to take.

Funny bringing up the 'wild west' , that was a safer time such that any criminal became famous like Billy the Kid and a shootin' was very rare so it was newsworthy because the thousands of gun-toting farmers and ranchers rarely did anything newsworthy. Now hardly anyone wears guns and there are so many criminal shootin's that they can't list them all on the news and they don't get famous.

Speaking of parking lots, at University of Houston in the past 2 weeks there was a carjacking, kidnapping and armed assault of a female near the bathroom by non-students who were armed.

How about the monthly armed robberies (by non-students) in bathrooms at San Antonio College?

How about robberies and females walking at night NEAR campus who get assaulted (These don’t show up in Cleary reports)

Someothername says:
Sat, 5th Mar 20118:08 pm 

Feeling safe

There is a difference in feeling safe and being safe.

Example:

FRIDAY THE 13th April 2007 everyone FELT safe
Monday the 16th, they realized they weren't
System Failure, Gun free zones never worked.
Virginia Tech

A wise man said
"If you want to FEEL safe, wear a lucky rabbit foot.
If you want to BE safe wear a .45:

Li23 says:
Thu, 17th Mar 20116:59 pm 

You don't have to have a CCL to buy a gun, just to carry it concealed legally. Someone planning a shooting likely wouldn't go through the process anyway, 1) since you are fingerprinted and photographed, making it easy to track you down and 2) they obviously have no regard for the law (or life) in the first place. As long as you're over 21, can pass a very basic "phone call" background check and have money, you can buy a gun (at least where I live).

doublejay says:
Wed, 20th Apr 201110:30 pm 

even if people were able to carry concealed weapons, if someone starts shooting on campus, how many would actually shoot him? i mean psychologically i feel like the people would have to be prepared for potentially killing someone. so even if they have a concealed weapon, if they don't use it/too scared to shoot in response, then what's the point?