Guns on University campuses, legal?
 

So today in my Government class my professor brought to light a bill that is currently going through legislation in Texas. If passed the bill would allow people that have CHLs(Concealed Handgun License) to carry their weapon on campuses legally onto all Texas universities. The purpose of this would be to allow students in a Virgina Tech type situation to defend themselves against any would be killer. One proposition was that the professors would have lists of those that had CHLs in their classroom. Any thoughts?

Note: The process of acquiring a CHL is expensive and thorough with background checks among other things.

Here's the link about CHLs if you want to go in depth. Texas Department of Public Safety - Regulatory Licensing Service Concealed Handgun Licensing

That bill has raised a lot of media attention, as it should.
As one who believes in gun ownership, but also in licensing them and responsible ownership, I also work at a university.

I have a problem with this bill, because I do not feel that any weapon belongs in a classroom unless it is as a teaching tool.

But I also feel I should be able to carry it in my vehicle that is parked on campus, if I have a legal permit to transport it.

This bill is very poorly written and needs to be killed, before it gets students and faculty killed by being passed.

What could possibly be gained by giving the professor the list of who is carrying a gun? That sounds like a dangerous idea and a violation of rights.

Im not to sure if letting the students have a gun is a great idea but i would understand if an teacher/professor had one so he/she could protect the students.

Don't worry about it. It'll never pass in 1,000,000 years.

This is the same state that eliminated contraception education from its schools textbooks and is now requiring intelligent design and creationism talk in biology textbooks. Don't tell Texas what they can and can't do.

I think if you want to have a gun outside your home, it should always be on you... Leaving it in a vehicle is no way a good idea any day of the week!

isn't America the safest country in the world?

you can't be serious?

could you please specify what you mean by "safe"

Even assuming that to be true (I've never researched the statistics), horrible things like Virginia Tech do happen here.

Texas legislators are attempting to improve that level of safety.

That being said, I agree with MMM -- nothing good can come of providing professors with a list of licensed students.

The list thing was something that was mentioned in class. Pretty sure it's not in the bill. Supposedly Mississippi is also considering it. I'd rather have it and not need it than need it and not have it, and being in my car would do no good to me huddled behind a turned over table.

I can see why some might think this good, but I see two problems with even the teacher/professor carrying a firearm.

1) I was always taught (even in NRA shooting classes) that the main problem with firearms is that they can be taken from you and used on you. Would you really want an attacker to know exactly to go after first to disarm?

2) At least two of my professors in college were certified mentally unstable. I am not exaggerating, one of them warned us the first day of her class. And then were was more than one elderly person with extremely limited vision. Professors are hired for their knowledge on a given subject - sometimes despite other serious limitations.

I work on a college campus where continues to be illegal to have any firearm. If I were allowed to at least lock it in my trunk during office hours (well out of sight), I would have it if I needed it on my drive to and from work.

This is quite serious, If the bill gets passed then America has to start dealling with increased crime.There is no way this wont result into something bad.

And the safest country isnt America, its finland or Demark.

Well if the student who carries one is required to have a shooting test before he's qualified then goes on to misfire during an altercation with an attacker and God-forbid hits an innocent.Will he be charged for man-slaughter?

maybe this is unique in the United States

That already happens. One of my best friends in college was killed when one of his student just walked in and shot him during his first year teaching - in 1975 in Austin, TX.

It still going to happen. Unfortunately this bill would mean the schools would probably have to remove the metal detectors used to reduce the weapons brought on campus, making it so much easier.

As for the death penalty, it gets adjusted downward when a 16 year old commits a deliberate, premeditated crime like that, so their age is no defense. If they don't have a documented history of mental problems most DAs can prove them competant to stand trial as an adult.

I'm not a fan of gun "rights" to begin with. So naturally, I do not agree with this bill. It is completely unnecessary for people to bring guns to an educational unit. Adolescents have a tendency to take an inch and turn it into a mile, I can defiantly see the amount of violence in schools increasing if this bill passes, but I have a feeling it won't. It's way to illogical.

You realize, this is college right, people with this would be 21+, not quite adolescents.

Being twenty one doesn't make anyone a " grown up" Lol. Working a real job, supporting a real family and having major responsibilities determines that. Most college students are yet to have experienced any of that, they're still going through that, " I'm invincible" phase, which makes them adolescents in a nontechnical sense. Please notice how I say "most" that doesn't mean all of them and certaintly isn't directed towards anyone here. I'm only twenty myself.

I wanted to clarify the age group, you made it sound like they wanted to give guns to a bunch of 15 year olds.

I strongly disagree with this.

ya dito whats the point in having a gun on campuse?? it will just make it even more crazy. we as humans are unpredictable what if someone had a gun and accidently shoot thier friend on thier foot?? it will just cause more crime.

well thats great for ur girlfriend then but not everyone wants/needs a gun.

ok if we share the same feelings and what not then how come we all have different opions??

school = where you learn ,supposed to be a safe campus. guns legal on school campus? NO WAY!!! but it doesnt matter with license or nolicense when people get bullied or when the persons had it, someone will bring a gun to school. I dont support people who bring guns to school and kill people but sometimes bullies will never get it until something is done.

I agree with you there.

whoa man u just dissed me!! viva la mexico

LMAO!!!!!!!!!! he did, but it's just an example, don't take it serious, im a Chink! @_@

ya i know im not i was just sayin incase someone else took it the wrong way.
anyway... i just think skool is ment to learn stuff and thiers no point in bringing a gun.