SB 11 implementation for junior colleges: Smooth sailing or rough seas?

[jkurtz]

I think it will be smooth sailing. When it is time for community colleges to begin allowing CC, the legislators will have hopefully weighed in on a lot of the questionable restrictions that the universities are currently trying to implement. Additionally, community colleges typically don't have the same types of buildings that larger universities have that are being excluded from CC such as medical and research facilities.

[AF-Odin]

At least from what I read in the newspaper regarding hearings at Central Texas College (Killeen), I am guardedly optimistic. At least one of the Trustees appears very pro-carry and I did not read about any really negative comments. Main pro-points revolved around the number of Texas A&M-Central Texas University students who also take classes at CTC and would potentiall have two different sets of rules. Will continue to monitor.

[MeMelYup]

With universities now getting to experience the headache of drafting their recommendations on areas they want to prohibit carry, waiting on approvals, and eventually finalizing their policies prior to Aug 1, 2016; when it comes time for the community colleges to begin implementing their policies, will it be a smoother transition for them to comply since they will have a year to monitor and learn from the bigger universities? Common sense says they will probably follow suit with their bigger brothers and have a smooth transition, however, the realist in me is saying some are going to be just as argumentative like some of the universities in an attempt to get their way.

What say you?

(Mods: I was unsure where this topic would fit, so please move if necessary)

You are advocating common sense from very learned professors?

[Jusme]

I think it will be an easier transition for most of the Junior/ Community Colleges for the simple fact that the majority of the students there are not residents on campus. Also the average age of students at those places is usually higher as some are going to college later in life. So I believe that there will be much more thought out overall compliance policy forthcoming from those institutions.
On a slightly different point, I have also noticed, excluding private universities,who have almost all opted out, that the majority of the push back has been from UT in Austin. I have read some of the initial proposals from other campuses regarding the implementation policies, and for the most part it looks as though there is at least a genuine effort to comply with the letter as well as the intent of the law, I also have not seen campus wide protests or statements from educators( I use that term loosely) denouncing the new law as much as I have from UT. Maybe it's happening and it's not as widely reported, but I haven't heard anything from A&M, Tech, or even some of the smaller Universities, Tarelton, Sul Ross, Sam Houston, or Stephen F. Austin.

Didn't mean to hijack the thread with a different topic.

[SewTexas]

both of my kids go to community colleges in San Antonio, yeh, different campuses....

son at Northwest Vista - hasn't heard anything
daughter just started SAC - went through the new student orientation a couple of weeks ago, they simply said "remember Campus Carry doesn't start until the fall semester" or something along those lines. She was impressed with the comment and does plan on getting hers by then.

[cbunt1]

Personally, I hope it ends up being smooth sailing, but I think we'll have some rough seas at first.

The four-year campus carry, which begins later this year, has been given way too much "administrative time" to take place, giving the universities plenty of opportunity to skirt the intent of the law.

I understand why it was done the way it was, but as with the delayed implementation of open carry, the hype, hand-wringing, and anticipation leads to much "blow-back."

On the other hand, I truly think that it will be a bigger (per capita) issue on junior college campuses just because they have a larger number of "non-traditional" students as a percentage of the student body, and thus a larger pool of potentially licensed individuals to draw from. As such, they will receive significantly more feedback from the student body, a student body that is in many cases better able to vote their preferences with their educational dollars (Don't forget that even students are customers and are purchasing a service).

So, provided that the four-year institutions' attempts to skirt the intent of the law are squashed (it's looking good for this) then the two-year implementation in 2017 may be close to a non-issue.

But based on some of the antics we're seeing from the notable four-year schools, it may not be "cleaned up" before the two-year school implementation happens, and in that case, it may take a legislative session or two to get things the way they're supposed to be.

That said, by 2020, I think we'll be looking back and saying "remember when..." while happily carrying our concealed handguns to class, better able to protect ourselves on the walk back to our cars after our night classes.

[NotRPB]

Leaders with CTC hoping to roll out "campus carry" law early
http://www.kxxv.com/story/31238085/lead ... -law-early

Leaders with CTC hoping to roll out "campus carry" law early
Posted: Feb 16, 2016 7:50 PM CST
By Rochelle Alleyne
Connect

KILLEEN -

The campus carry concealed weapons law could be coming to a local community college much sooner than legally mandated.

The controversial bill was signed into law last summer and allows for the concealed carrying of weapons on public college campuses across the state.

Four-year universities have until august of 2016 to incorporate the law on campus, but 2-year universities and junior colleges have another year, until august of 2017.

Despite their "junior college" ranking, several members of the Board of Trustees at Central Texas College in Killeen, are hoping to roll out "campus carry" by August of this year.

At least from what I read in the newspaper regarding hearings at Central Texas College (Killeen), I am guardedly optimistic. At least one of the Trustees appears very pro-carry and I did not read about any really negative comments. Main pro-points revolved around the number of Texas A&M-Central Texas University students who also take classes at CTC and would potentiall have two different sets of rules. Will continue to monitor.

2/16/16
Campus carry will not go into effect for Texas community colleges until Aug. 1, 2017, but last month a few Central Texas College board members proposed the possibility of implementing it earlier.

http://kdhnews.com/news/education/ctc-b ... d72a5.html
http://kdhnews.com/news/education/campu ... fd807.html

This is on a few Central Texas TV stations today and last night, can't find a kwtx/kcen/kvue/kxan etc link yet

And the #GunFreeUT group still wants the safety for criminals of having defenseless victims >>> UT police: Student reports sexual assault on campus http://kxan.com/2016/02/16/ut-police-st ... on-campus/