Campus Carry Legislation Headed To Governor Abbott's Desk
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AUSTIN (CBSDFW.COM) - The controversial bill that would allow concealed handguns in college classrooms, known as Campus Carry, has passed in the Texas Legislature and is now headed to Governor Greg Abbott's desk.
State Representative Allen Fletcher sponsored the bill that would allow concealed handgun license holders to carry weapons in some facilities on public college and university campuses. He said, "It's very clear that the Presidents of the universities [and] that the Regents will make decisions about where they can carry [and] what buildings they can carry in."
Fletcher argued that the bill was meant to look out for concealed handgun license holders. "This bill will do nothing more than protect the men and women that are carrying concealed on our campuses."
Dallas Representative Helen Giddings is one who argued against the bill. She has a question for her fellow lawmakers, "Universities are telling us that they don't want these guns in laboratories... but they will be able to carry them in some classrooms. Who is going to enforce that?"
Addressing lawmakers, Giddings also spoke on behalf of some University faculty. "Some of them said they will no longer go into classrooms if they know that there are students in there with guns."
Currently, concealed handgun license carriers are allowed to take firearms onto college and university grounds, House Bill 910 would also allow guns in cafeterias, classrooms and campus dorms.
Attorney Gary Lawson, with Strasburger & Price in Dallas, says he foresees challenges to the bill. "I expect we will see strong protests on both sides of this equation."
If Governor Abbott signs the bill, and he is expected to, the new law would go into effect in the Fall of 2016.
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