Three professors sue UT to keep guns out of their classrooms

[Soccerdad1995]

Secondly, why are they suing the university which is just complying with state law? Shouldn't they sue the state, or possibly the citizens of the state whose elected representatives passed the laws that they disagree with?

They are suing the university as the state agency responsible for the implementation of the law, i.e. the policies they came up with. In the actual law suit they also named the state and the AG as the representative of the state.

This is how you go about actually suing to challenge a law. You name the agency that is responsible for the implementation and the head of the agency, then can add the state itself and the AG or Governor etc.

OK, so they are employees and they are suing their employer. That at least makes sense. Now wouldn't they also need to show that the employment conditions violated their employment contract (if they have one), or created an unsafe work place in some way?

[TexasJohnBoy]

A hearing has been scheduled for early August, according to this article:

Specifically, the professors seek the right to ban guns from their classrooms -- something the university has maintained would put it out of compliance with the new law. The professors, who argue that both state law and university policies are vague on that point, on Friday were granted a hearing for a preliminary injunction on having to allow weapons in class. It’s scheduled for early next month. Fall classes resume at the end of August.

We just do not want guns in our classrooms; we have a well-trained police force in the city of Austin and on campus. I trust our first responders to protect us.”

When seconds count, the police are only minutes away.

[nimravus01]

We just do not want guns in our classrooms; we have a well-trained police force in the city of Austin and on campus. I trust our first responders to protect us.”

What they fail to understand is that a the LTC holder is not there to be a police officer for the class as a whole. In actuality, the LTC holder carries for their own individual protection, which largely involves travel to and from said classroom. So what the professors are really suggesting is taking away an individual's right to self protection when they aren't even in class.

[LucasMcCain]

We just do not want guns in our classrooms; we have a well-trained police force in the city of Austin and on campus. I trust our first responders to protect us.”

What they fail to understand is that a the LTC holder is not there to be a police officer for the class as a whole. In actuality, the LTC holder carries for their own individual protection, which largely involves travel to and from said classroom. So what the professors are really suggesting is taking away an individual's right to self protection when they aren't even in class.

You make a good point. I never worried about being attacked in class when I was in college. I did while walking out to the far parking lot where my car was though.

I seem to remember hearing about a serial rapist when I was in school. Do you think he was raping women while they were in class?

[nimravus01]

"We just do not want guns in our classrooms; we have a well-trained police force in the city of Austin and on campus. I trust our first responders to protect us.”

What if we rewrite that statement like this? "We just don't want fire extinguishers in our classrooms; we have a well-trained fire department in the city of Austin and on campus. I trust our first responders to protect us.”

[nimravus01]

You make a good point. I never worried about being attacked in class when I was in college. I did while walking out to the far parking lot where my car was though.

I seem to remember hearing about a serial rapist when I was in school. Do you think he was raping women while they were in class?

Exactly! I think a lot of people are thinking of Virginia Tech and similar events, when campus carry is brought up. No doubt that is a valid thing to consider, but, that's not the primary reason for LTC.

[FastCarry]

When I was at UT Arlington, from the south parking lot there was a 18 min walk to the fine arts building. We got "maverick alerts" quite frequently about muggings in the parking lot after sunset.

We even had a professor attacked, but yeah, no defense is better.

[LucasMcCain]

Yeah, that far south parking lot is a serious hike from even the closest buildings, and some of the neighborhoods around there are really not great.

[bblhd672]

We just do not want guns in our classrooms; we have a well-trained police force in the city of Austin and on campus. I trust our first responders to protect us.”

And these are the people indoctrinating, I mean educating, our children and grandchildren. What a bunch of morons.

It would be great if the Austin Police testified in court to the fact that according to the Supreme Court it is not the police's job to protect the citizens.

[LucasMcCain]

We just do not want guns in our classrooms; we have a well-trained police force in the city of Austin and on campus. I trust our first responders to protect us.”

And these are the people indoctrinating, I mean educating, our children and grandchildren. What a bunch of morons.

It would be great if the Austin Police testified in court to the fact that according to the Supreme Court it is not the police's job to protect the citizens.

Exactly. While you're at it, get someone from DPS to come by and read the list of crimes committed on the UT campus last year. The victims of all of those crimes were forced to rely solely on the police force for protection. I'm not bashing the police, of course, but they can't be everywhere at once.

[v7a]

Preliminary injunction hearing is scheduled for August 4th at 2pm:

United States District Court
Western District of Texas
Austin Division
Courtroom 7

[tommyg]

I work for UT Austin I'm concerned about the attempt by three professors to stop
guns on campus does anyone have any more info on this issue

[RHenriksen]

I work for UT Austin I'm concerned about the attempt by three professors to stop
guns on campus does anyone have any more info on this issue

This would be a good page to follow:

http://concealedcampus.org/

[v7a]

Ahead of the court hearing on Thursday, the AG has filed a reply brief with the court. The brief is excellent.

[mojo84]

Ahead of the court hearing on Thursday, the AG has filed a reply brief with the court. The brief is excellent.

I love this comment.

Their failure to establish a likelihood of success is particularly stark.