Campus carry law now in place

BY GLYNIS CRAWFORD SMITH

THE HIGHLANDER

The Campus Carry Law (Texas Senate Bill 11) went into effect Monday, Aug. 1, and colleges and universities across the state posted the new advisory allowing concealed handguns on campus, including the Texas Tech University (TTU) and Central Texas College (CTC) campus in Marble Falls.

By coincidence, that day fell on the 50th anniversary of the 1966 University of Texas (UT) Main Building Tower shootings. What is widely considered the nation's introduction to mass murder, or campus shootings at the least, was witnessed in part by Marble Falls High School graduates, attending summer classes or orientation on campus. And, the city like others across the nation were riveted to the reports from KTBC by the young Neal Spelce and Gordon Smith and mourned with news director Paul Bolton when his grandson's name was found among the 13 who died after Charles Whitman found is mark in 43 people shot on the campus mall.

In Austin Monday, the university observed a mid-day rededication of the Tower Garden and dedication of a new memorial. The Tower Garden, located just north of the Main Building, was dedicated in 1999 to those who suffered from the tragedy. Before the ceremony, the clock in the Main Building was stopped at 11:48 a.m., the time when the shooting began 50 years ago. The clock was to remain stopped for 24 hours and, at dusk on, Tower lights were darkened.

All in all, however, it was a quite day on Texas campuses and most probably never even noticed changes on signs at their entrances.

Lawrence Schovanec, PhD, TTU president, said that pursuant to the law Texas firearm license holders will be allowed to carry concealed handguns on campuses across the state, but open carry of firearms, per state law, will continue to be prohibited on campus.

Kelly Fox, PhD, director of the TTU Higher Education Teaching Site in Marble Falls, said the 30.06 “Open Carry” signs were removed from the outside of the Frank Fickett Education Center last week. As required by law, the 30.07 sign permitting “Campus Carry,” (concealed carry) will remain posted outside the center at 806 Steve Hawkins Parkway.”

“As part of our ongoing efforts to provide a safe campus, a number of training and educational initiatives will be instituted this fall,” noted Schovanec. “The Campus Carry Committee, formed last spring, will advise me on issues related to our policy and requests for exclusion.”

Texas State University (TSU) followed a long process as well.

“More than a year ago, we began a process that involved the whole campus community, including staff, alumni and even residents of San Marcos, in public forms to create our policies,” said Matt Flores, TSU assistant vice president for communications. “Fire arms, of course, will no be allowed in a number of places, such as where child care takes place and athletic competitions.”

In an update from Bob Harkins, associate vice president for campus safety and security at the University of Texas (UT) at Austin, he noted that concealed carry license holders have been allowed on campus, but not buildings, for 20 years.

“We estimate that fewer than one percent of UT students have licenses to carry,” he said. “Fewer than 500 students 21 and older (legal age to get a license) live in on-campus residential halls.”

The scrutiny of how the law will be administered on each campus has been so intensive, that students and parents will find guidelines on where firearm carry is permissible and how licensed gun owners must store their weapons in dormitories and residential facilities are found on virtually every campus website in the state.

As with most of its counterparts, Texas A&M University went beyond plain statement of the law in Campus Carry information provided online. Among frequently asked questions, it responded what a student should do if they see someone openly carrying a firearm on campus:

“The safest course of action is to call the Texas A&M University Police Department by dialing 911. They will respond and make contact with the individual to determine if that person is an authorized license holder and is legitimately carrying a firearm.”