Caution with the Campus Carry Law at Texas State University | By: Kelsey Maxfield

Caution with the Campus Carry Law at Texas State University

By: Kelsey Maxfield

Professors and students spoke out about the opposition of the campus carry law during multiple interviews casted March 29, 2016 on Texas State University.

According to the NCSL website, Texas is one of eight states in favor of this law. While there are 19 states who have banned for schools to allow concealed weapons on campus. It will take into effect beginning of August 2016.

After the conducted interviews on campus, most of the people agree it is more of a threat than advantageous. Many of them believe it could disrupt the environment of the classroom.

"I worry about the impact on classroom discussion. I worry about the way that the presence of fire arms changing our ability to have open discussions about uncomfortable topics,” philosophy Professor Bob Fischer said.

 

 

Professor Fischer. Photo by Sawyer Stull

“I oppose it coming out of it from an instructor’s point of view. To think about maybe talking about touchy subjects that students might get upset at and then they have a weapon. You know it may be intimidating for students to talk about some topics if they know that their classmates have a weapon,” Professor Keisha Ray said.

 

 

Professor Ray. Photo by Katherine Huerta

The interviewee’s also made an argument that if there is campus UPD, there is no need for concealed weapons at school.

“I just feel that it would be completely unnecessary since we have UPD here,” student Carlos Flores said. “We already have people in charge in case something happens.”

Carlos Flores. Photo by Annalise Hughes

 "I don’t really see the point as to why you would need a gun on campus. Unless you were that worried about your life, but why would you be if we already have campus security and police,” student Melanie Bush said. "The only part of campus carry that I would support is for mostly women late at night. With the assaults that happen late at night on campus.”

Melanie Bush. Photo by Erik Rodriguez

Another point was made about the college atmosphere in general.

“College is a time when people kind of have a chance to make bad decisions and good decisions and learn about themselves, but then when you put lethal weapons in the mix it just doesn't seem like a good thing to bring to the table,” graduate student Rachel Brownlee said.

 

Rachel Brownlee. Photo by Dylan Anguiano

“It might change how we interact with students and how we treat the students,” Dean of the Honors College Heather G. Galloway said. She also said that the environment of the campus does not improve by having this law implemented.

Dean Galloway. Photo by Ron Silva

Even though there were multiple interviewee’s, all of their opinions are the same. They are, in general, opposed to the law. On the Texas State website there is the rules for the campus carry law.