Campus-Carry Bills Filed Today

[ClarkLZeuss]

As someone who does volunteer work at a local university in a dangerous part of town, where several major crimes have happened out in the open recently, this drive is very important to me. I've emailed both my TX congressman and senator, even though they're both Democrats and I have no idea what their philosophy is. I'm considering taking further steps, too, like the handbook.

[Charles L. Cotton]

As someone who does volunteer work at a local university in a dangerous part of town, where several major crimes have happened out in the open recently, this drive is very important to me. I've emailed both my TX congressman and senator, even though they're both Democrats and I have no idea what their philosophy is. I'm considering taking further steps, too, like the handbook.

You might consider telling these folks about your volunteer work in a high crime area, if you haven't already. This is a different twist to the subject. Are you interested in being an impact witness and testify at a hearing in Austin?

Chas.

[dihappy]

Found this article. It seems the ignorance is alive and in full force still :(

State bill would allow students to carry guns on campus
-Libby Davis

Issue date: 2/18/09 Section: News

The university will ensure that all licensed gun holders undergo the necessary training if the Texas Legislature passes a bill that would allow students with concealed carry licenses to bring their weapons on campus at public and private universities, a university official said.

Don Mills, vice chancellor for student affairs, said that while the university would obey the law if it was passed, it would ensure that members of the student staff like resident assistants would have the appropriate training to handle a potentially violent situation. He said the university would make sure that students who carry weapons have valid permits.

The bill, which is in the process of being drafted, will be announced in the Texas legislature in a few weeks, said state Sen. Jeff Wentworth, a Republican from San Antonio and a probable sponsor of the bill.

"It is my intention that no campus be vulnerable to a madman's attack," Wentworth said. "I don't want to wake up some morning and read in the paper that 32 Texas kids were picked off like sitting ducks on some college campus because nobody could defend themselves."

Mills said that if the law is passed and allows private universities to choose whether or not students can carry weapons, the university would maintain its ban on weapons.

Sgt. Kelly Ham of TCU Police said the bill could endanger students rather than protect them.

Ham said law enforcement training has changed since the deadly shooting at Columbine High School in 1999. Police are now trained to eliminate a threat rather than to contain it, he said.

"If we go into a building where we've got somebody shooting at people and we see a student with a pistol in his hand, he's going to be a target because we don't know if he's the bad guy or the good guy," Ham said.

Currently, even if a student possesses a concealed carry license, he or she is not allowed to bring a gun on campus, Ham said. A student must turn the gun into TCU Police for storage.

J.C. Williams, assistant chief of police, said he does not think the bill will pass because of the trend of similar bills failing to make it into law.

Chris Simcho, a junior strategic communication major, said he thinks the proposition is not a bad idea and that bearing arms is a fundamental American right, but not all students have the knowledge necessary to correctly operate a firearm.

"There's a certain level of training and maturity that's required for somebody to be responsible with a firearm," he said.

Simcho, who was a member of the Marine Corps for four years, said the required two-day course is insufficient training. He said firearm safety and the capability to fire at a target should be required training.

Simcho said that even though he plans to get a concealed carry license, it would mostly be for traveling purposes.

Currently, an individual must be 21 years old to apply for a concealed carry license, Ham said.

Mills said the difference between TCU and Virginia Tech is that Virginia law at the time did not allow the university to take action against an unstable student whereas university policy allows TCU to ban a mentally unstable student from school until he or she is cleared by a psychiatrist.

Concealed carry training should also contain role-playing situations where students are taught to handle different situations, Mills said.

"When you have the ability to use lethal force, you also are putting yourself in a position where you could be committing a crime," Mills said.

Mills said background checks and psychological evaluations should be required. He said he is mostly concerned that students who are allowed to have a lethal weapon on campus could be more likely to harm themselves rather than use the weapon to protect themselves or others.

The idea that handguns will promote safety makes the assumption that campus is a dangerous place to be, Mills said.

Even the most basic rights have limitations, he said.

"I don't think the right to bear arms is an unlimited right just like the right to free speech is not an unlimited right," he said. "There are certain instances and circumstances where public safety limits an absolute right to bear arms."

[Furyataurus]

Anyone know "when" it will be discussed? Or was that when it was introduced?

[tarkus]

Guns in school?

Cool...then by this logic, we should all be allowed to walk around naked in public, scream fire in a crowded theater and wear a T shirt with a swastika emblem on it in a Jewish Synagogue, all without being charged with creating a public disturbance.

[Charles L. Cotton]

Anyone know "when" it will be discussed? Or was that when it was introduced?

You can follow the progress on these bills by checking the Bill Status Report; just click on "Legislative History." I'll also be posting notices when the public hearing is scheduled.

Chas.

[Luggo1]

Sen. Robert Duncan's (Lubbock) office is still stalling on a response as to his position on 730 and 1164 as of Monday morning.

[ClarkLZeuss]

You might consider telling these folks about your volunteer work in a high crime area, if you haven't already. This is a different twist to the subject. Are you interested in being an impact witness and testify at a hearing in Austin?

Chas.

Hi Charles, I'm honored by your offer. Please see my PM.

[Charles L. Cotton]

I posted this as a separate notice, but I wanted to repeat it here. I hope we can get a lot of people to listen, since I suspect we'll hear the same unfounded emotional arguments tonight that our people in Austin will hear until one of these bills pass or die.

Chas.

Scott Braddock of KRLD radio has asked me to appear on his radio program, KRLD Nightly News Roundup this evening. His program runs from 7:00pm to 8:00pm on 1080 AM and you can also hear it on http://www.krld.com" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false; by clicking on the "Listen Now" button. I think I'll be on from 7:10pm to 7:30pm. The topic is going to be campus-carry and he will also have a lady from the Brady Bunch so we can "debate."

I've done numerous interviews with Scott over the years, both when he was in Houston with KTRH radio and since he moved to Dallas. He has always been very fair and honest and never engaged in any "creative editing" to make it sound like I said something I didn't.

If you have the chance to listen either or the radio or by Internet, please do. I told Scott I was going to let my "forum family" know about the show.

Chas.

[JoshL]

While I am all for concealed carry on campus, I have a question regarding this bill. I noticed the bill also includes private universities. Shouldn't a private university have the right to post a 30.06 sign, just like a private business does now? Don't get me wrong, I'm a staunch supporter of the 2A, but I'm also a big believer in property rights. I certainly will support the bill, but I'm just curious if this issue has been brought up.

Thanks!

[jimlongley]

While I am all for concealed carry on campus, I have a question regarding this bill. I noticed the bill also includes private universities. Shouldn't a private university have the right to post a 30.06 sign, just like a private business does now? Don't get me wrong, I'm a staunch supporter of the 2A, but I'm also a big believer in property rights. I certainly will support the bill, but I'm just curious if this issue has been brought up.

Thanks!

I think the bill has to be universal to be effective.

That said, I also think that a private university would then HAVE to post 30.06 to prevent guns on campus.

[Charles L. Cotton]

While I am all for concealed carry on campus, I have a question regarding this bill. I noticed the bill also includes private universities. Shouldn't a private university have the right to post a 30.06 sign, just like a private business does now? Don't get me wrong, I'm a staunch supporter of the 2A, but I'm also a big believer in property rights. I certainly will support the bill, but I'm just curious if this issue has been brought up.

Thanks!

It's a matter of personal opinion. The State of Texas, even the feds, regulate all colleges and universities including private ones. So adding this requirement is not breaking new ground. Plus, even private schools take state and/or federal funding, so they are may be privately owned, but they are not totally removed from state or federal funding.

Chas.

[Charles L. Cotton]

While I am all for concealed carry on campus, I have a question regarding this bill. I noticed the bill also includes private universities. Shouldn't a private university have the right to post a 30.06 sign, just like a private business does now? Don't get me wrong, I'm a staunch supporter of the 2A, but I'm also a big believer in property rights. I certainly will support the bill, but I'm just curious if this issue has been brought up.

Thanks!

I think the bill has to be universal to be effective.

That said, I also think that a private university would then HAVE to post 30.06 to prevent guns on campus.

Nope, they won't be able to prohibit CHLs from carrying on campus.

Chas.

[JoshL]

While I am all for concealed carry on campus, I have a question regarding this bill. I noticed the bill also includes private universities. Shouldn't a private university have the right to post a 30.06 sign, just like a private business does now? Don't get me wrong, I'm a staunch supporter of the 2A, but I'm also a big believer in property rights. I certainly will support the bill, but I'm just curious if this issue has been brought up.

Thanks!

It's a matter of personal opinion. The State of Texas, even the feds, regulate all colleges and universities including private ones. So adding this requirement is not breaking new ground. Plus, even private schools take state and/or federal funding, so they are may be privately owned, but they are not totally removed from state or federal funding.

Chas.

Thanks Charles! That helps clear it up. I guess since private colleges already have to abide by state and federal regulations, and they take funding, they really aren't like a typical private business. That pretty much clears up the conflict between 2A and property rights for me.

Thanks!

[Aric]

Will this bill wind up in the Senate Committee of Criminal Justice? If so the Vice-Chairman is from Amarillo and is a CHL holder and very pro-gun.