UT campus carry rules

[Rpenn57]

http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/lo ... led/nqRbT/

[RossA]

So you can't carry with a chambered round? I have a feeling that will be challenged.
BTW, if it's concealed, how will they know?

[Vol Texan]

http://www.mystatesman.com/news/news/lo ... led/nqRbT/

From the linked article (my comments in red):

I'll give him props for this. He purposefully exposes his bias, but still SAYS he will still comply:
“I do not believe handguns belong on a university campus, so this decision has been the greatest challenge of my presidency to date,” Fenves said in a message to the university community. “I empathize with the many faculty members, staffers, students and parents of students who signed petitions, sent emails and letters, and organized to ban guns from campus and especially classrooms. As a professor, I understand the deep concerns raised by so many. However, as president, I have an obligation to uphold the law.”



A few highlights of Fenves’ rules:

• While generally barring guns in dorms, the rules allow concealed carry in dining halls and other common areas. They permit a resident’s family members to carry a concealed gun while visiting, and they allow carrying in off-campus university apartments. This likely won't impact many students, because the majority of dorm residents may be under 21. But if a 21-year old LTC holder finds his rights to carry on campus are 'generally prohibited' because he cannot carry in his domicile, then this might (and I hope will) cause a problem for the school. I'm glad that parents can carry while visiting kids.
• Concealed carry can be prohibited in an office at the occupant’s option if the office is not generally open to the public. Hmm...I wonder if they'll say professor's offices are 'generally not open' to the public, because it is only open while the professor is there.
• A license holder carrying a semiautomatic handgun must do so without a chambered round of ammunition. Already discussed here on the forum. This is a non-starter.
• Holsters must completely cover the trigger and “the entire trigger guard area,” and the holster must have sufficient tension or grip to retain the handgun “even when subjected to unexpected jostling.” Gosh, he describes most every holster that we use on a daily basis. Yawn.

[JustSomeOldGuy]

"A few highlights of Fenves’ rules:
A license holder carrying a semiautomatic handgun must do so without a chambered round of ammunition."

Seriously?
But if I carry my revolver, I can load all the chambers?

[mr1337]

Modern semi-autos and revolvers are equally safe in the sense of accidental shootings. They are drop safe because the firing pin can't impact the primer unless the trigger is pulled - due to internal safety mechanisms.

It seems whoever made this rule up doesn't have a very firm grasp of firearm safety.

[TexasJohnBoy]

I think the chambered round issue, and the 'private office issue' was covered by the Attorney General.

The bill does not allow rules about how to carry to be established, only where to carry.

A random prof is not granted the authority by the bill to say that any space is off limits. That ability is specifically delegated to the president, with the regents able to amend. Not every Joe or Jim Bob with three letters hanging off of their business card.

It has been a while since I read the AGs opinion though, so I may be foggy on it.

[bulinm]

WFAA - Dallas ABC Affiliate _ has headline on their website ......

UT to allow open carry in classrooms

They changed it.

[mr1337]

I think the chambered round issue, and the 'private office issue' was covered by the Attorney General.

The bill does not allow rules about how to carry to be established, only where to carry.

A random prof is not granted the authority by the bill to say that any space is off limits. That ability is specifically delegated to the president, with the regents able to amend. Not every Joe or Jim Bob with three letters hanging off of their business card.

It has been a while since I read the AGs opinion though, so I may be foggy on it.

I haven't read the AG opinion, but this was in the bill:

(d-1)After consulting with students, staff, and faculty of
the institution regarding the nature of the student population,
specific safety considerations, and the uniqueness of the campus
environment, the president or other chief executive officer of an
institution of higher education in this state shall establish
reasonable rules, regulations, or other provisions regarding the
carrying of concealed handguns by license holders on the campus of
the institution or on premises located on the campus of the
institution.

Emphasis mine. So it seems they have the power to establish reasonable rules, regulations, and provisions regarding the carrying of handguns on their campus. It doesn't say that the can only establish prohibited areas.

I'm not disagreeing if the AG has made an opinion on this matter, I'm just saying what the law says.

Anyone have a link to the AG opinion in question?

[Rpenn57]

Not an official opinion - http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/ ... -law.html/

Paxton: Gun bans in public university dorms would violate campus carry law

[oljames3]

I think the chambered round issue, and the 'private office issue' was covered by the Attorney General.

The bill does not allow rules about how to carry to be established, only where to carry.

A random prof is not granted the authority by the bill to say that any space is off limits. That ability is specifically delegated to the president, with the regents able to amend. Not every Joe or Jim Bob with three letters hanging off of their business card.

It has been a while since I read the AGs opinion though, so I may be foggy on it.

I haven't read the AG opinion, but this was in the bill:

(d-1)After consulting with students, staff, and faculty of
the institution regarding the nature of the student population,
specific safety considerations, and the uniqueness of the campus
environment, the president or other chief executive officer of an
institution of higher education in this state shall establish
reasonable rules, regulations, or other provisions regarding the
carrying of concealed handguns by license holders on the campus of
the institution or on premises located on the campus of the
institution.

Emphasis mine. So it seems they have the power to establish reasonable rules, regulations, and provisions regarding the carrying of handguns on their campus. It doesn't say that the can only establish prohibited areas.

I'm not disagreeing if the AG has made an opinion on this matter, I'm just saying what the law says.

Anyone have a link to the AG opinion in question?

https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/op ... &utm_term=

[Jusme]

I have seen some strange things, but how are they going to enforce the chambered round issue? Are they going to have a bullet check? And how will they do that if the handgun must be concealed?
Obviously someone needs to have the President see a demonstration on handguns, so that he can familiarize himself with their functionality.

It just gets me that someone who is supposed to be so intelligent and has stated that he has advisers to help him construct the rules, would obviously have no one on his panel that has a clue about guns?

[TexasCajun]

Good! Let him enact a mish-mash of "reasonable" restrictions that fly in the face of the law & the AG opinion. That way next session, the legislature will have a basis for removing the presidents and admins from the equation.

[NotRPB]

chambered round issue

Wish I could take a course there and sue under Americans with Disabilities Act.... having only 1 hand, I never leave home without a round chambered, and that guy wants me to only carry an unloaded gun ...

Guess I could go to school with a round chambered, then to comply with his "rule" get that round out of there at school, but every time I pull the trigger to get rid of that chambered round, another one stubbornly takes its place

[RossA]

I would honestly go up there and give free classes to some of those idiots just to see if a little basic knowledge would do any good.

[NotRPB]

I'll carry with an empty chamber as soon as they make sure all their fire extinguishers are empty and every spare tire in every University vehicle has no air in them. All three of these items are for emergency only, and the logic of having to wait to "fill" any one of them when needed in an emergency in a hurry, is pure idiocy. HOW in the WORLD could a man be put in as position to run a school with the brain capacity to think that way with a total lack of logic in thinking people should wait for catastrophy before installing fire prevention, having spare tires, or an emergency backup plan.</end Rant>