Campus concealed handgun bill debated in Texas House

By: Melanie Yoes

A new bill being debated in the Texas Legislature could allow concealed handguns to be carried onto college campuses statewide if it passes.

The bill, entitled Senate Bill 354, would enable licensed concealed handgun permit holders to bring the weapons onto college campuses and into classrooms. The Texas Concealed Carry Law, signed into law by then-Gov. George W. Bush in 1995, already allows licensed permit holders to carry concealed handguns in the state of Texas.

To be eligible to receive a concealed handgun license, or CHL, applicants must be at least 21 years of age, or 18 years old if they are currently serving in or have been honorably discharged from the U.S. armed forces. In order to receive a CHL, Texans also must have a clean criminal history, pass a background check along with a 10-15 hour training course and pay a fee.

In 2004, Utah became the first state to allow concealed handguns to be carried onto college campuses, and lawmakers in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Michigan, Mississippi, Nebraska, Oklahoma and Tennessee are also considering passing similar legislation.

Supporters of Senate Bill 354 said the goal of the legislation is to increase the safety of college students by providing them with a means of self-defense should a gunman open fire on campus.

“Long before the Virginia Tech tragedy, I have been a staunch supporter of the Second Amendment and our right to defend ourselves and our loved ones,” said State Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, a co-author of the bill. “I want to put an element of doubt in a potential shooter’s mind. And, if some deranged person does open fire in a Texas college classroom or dormitory, I want to give the faculty, staff and students the ability to defend themselves.”

The April 2007 Virginia Tech school shooting, during which student Seung-Hui Cho went on a killing spree that ultimately claimed the lives of 32 people, remains the deadliest in U.S. history. The second deadliest school shooting occurred in 1966 at the University of Texas when student and ex-Marine Charles Whitman, 25, killed 16 people and wounded 31 others with a rifle from the 29th floor observation deck of the University Tower before being killed by Austin police officers.

The most recent episode involving a school shooting in Texas also took place at the University of Texas last September, when a student armed with an assault rifle fired several shots before killing himself in an on-campus library. No one else was injured during the incident.

Those in opposition to the bill said that having more guns on college campuses would lead to an increase in violence, not stop a potential shooter from opening fire.

Colin Goddard, who was shot four times during the massacre at Virginia Tech, has since devoted his life to preventing gun violence.

"Our colleges should be safe havens, students should not have to feel their lives are at risk to receive an education," said Goddard, now Assistant Director of Legislative Affairs for the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.

Students at Texas State appear to be divided on the issue of allowing concealed handguns on campus and in classrooms.

"It's not like they let anyone use a gun. I went through the same background check as police officers,"' said Kurt Little, a 21-year-old Texas State student who recently obtained his license to carry a concealed handgun.

Little added that he would feel more safe knowing there were CHL holders with guns on campus because the training they receive makes them more responsible when handling their weapons.

Texas State Sophomore Jordan Gass-Poore, 20, who was raised around guns in a rural area outside of Seguin, said she doesn’t agree with Senate Bill 354.

"Even growing up around guns, you know, I still don't think people should be able to carry a handgun," she said. "I remember a few years ago at Texas A&M when there was that shooting scare. My cousin was in a class and got stuck in her class because they didn't know if there was a shooter on campus or not,” recalled Gass-Poore. “I was in a teaching theater and remember thinking, if a guy with a gun comes in the door right now we could all die. My cousin was calling her mom, and her mom was calling my mom, and she was calling me. It was crazy."

"A handgun's sole purpose is to shoot or kill a human being. They aren't used for hunting or to kill animals or anything like that," Gass-Poore added.

However, Texas State History major Jackson Dampier, 20, said he can relate to both viewpoints brought about by the controversy.

"The issue is moot because the risk and reward with guns cancel each other out. Either way guns will still be there," said Jackson. "But I'm still pretty on the fence about it. To me there are bigger issues going on and everyone is hyping this up.”