Texas College Guns

On May 19, 2009, the Texas Senate passed legislation to let students and others carry concealed weapons on college campuses in their dorm rooms and classrooms. A vote of the full Senate may be scheduled later the same week.KWTX: Texas Senate Gives Preliminary OK To Allow Guns On Campuses (May 19, 2009) Houston Chronicle: Bill allows guns on college campuses (May 19, 2009)

Currently, Texas state law allows concealed weapon permit holders can carry their weapons on campus grounds but not in stadiums and sporting arenas. The new law is intended to let students carry guns in dorms and classrooms.KWTX: Texas Senate Gives Preliminary OK To Allow Guns On Campuses (May 19, 2009)

According to the bill's author, Republican Senator Jeff Wentworth from San Antonio, the bill is for the "safety of all college students". Wentworth was able to stifle several attempts to add a rider to allow public universities to control handguns on their campuses. The universities wanted the ability to determine whether they have guns on campus, whether students can transfer to a non-gun dorm, or to prohibit guns where alcohol is sold or served. All of those were defeated.Austin Stateman: Guns-on-campus bill? Aye (May 19, 2009)

A similar bill failed in the House on May 14, 2009.Times Record: University president opposes gun bill (May 18, 2009)

1. Houston Chronicle: Bill allows guns on college campuses (May 19, 2009)

2. KWTX: Texas Senate Gives Preliminary OK To Allow Guns On Campuses (May 19, 2009)

3. Austin Statesman: Guns-on-campus bill? Aye (May 19, 2009)

4. Times Record: University president not consulted about firearms-on-campus bill (May 19, 2009)

5. Times Record: University president opposes gun bill (May 18, 2009)

6. Dallas Morning News: Senate panel considers handguns-on-campus bill (April 27, 2009)

7. Nexus (VA): After sister's death at Va. Tech, student began gun control fight (May 18, 2009)