Guns May Become Legal on Texas College Campuses
In Austin, Texas, legislators are preparing a bill that will allow college students and professors the right to carry guns to school.
More than 50% of the Texas House along with Governor Rick Perry have approved the bill. Supporters of the bill believe that the best defense against gun violence on a college campus, like what happened at Virginia Tech, is someone else shooting back.
Those that oppose the bill believe that gun in a college party-like atmosphere or in the hands of a volatile student may be a recipe for disaster.
If the bill passes, which it is likely to do, Texas will be the second state next to Utah that will allow guns on the campuses of its 38 public universities. Colorado currently allows each university to decide whether or not to have a gun free campus. Private universities in Texas will still have the option of allowing a gun free campus or can choose to allow guns.
Texans have a lot of emotion attached to the issue of guns on campus. Prior to the shootings at Virginia Tech, the worst shooting at a college campus in United States history occurred at the University of Texas. In 1966, Charles Whitman climbed on the campus administration tower and killed 16 people and injured many others.
The main reason for students and professors to carry a gun on college campuses is for protection. On college campuses in Texas, those that will be allowed to carry a gun will be required to have a concealed handgun license. This involves passing a background check, registering with local law enforcement, taking a class, and passing a handgun proficiency test.
