By Bailey Savage
Campus Carry, also known as SB 11, has sparked conflict in universities across the state of Texas.
Senate Bill 11, which goes into effect August 1, obligates public universities in Texas to allow persons with a concealed handgun license to conceal a gun on university premises. Although a poll by the Texas Tribune shows that more than 50 percent of Texans support the new law, more than 40 percent do not.
As stated in the Texas Tribune, many professors at the University of Texas at Austin, one in particular being Professor Steven Weinberg, tried to convince Austin officials to allow professors to ban guns in their classrooms. UT-Austin President, Greg Fenves, along with officials, determined that it would be in violation of the law.
Professors, like students, want to feel safe on campus while doing their job. Some professors feel that with this new Campus Carry law going into effect, controversial discussions in the classroom will be put to a halt.
Heather C. Galloway, Dean of Honors College at Texas State University, said that Campus Carry makes her concerned for the way instructors will communicate with their students.
"The campus environment does not improve by allowing students to legally carry firearms," Galloway said.
Keisha Ray, a professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, says she opposes the new law. Like Dean Galloway, Ray thinks the law will cause students to feel intimidated and not want to discuss their opinions on controversial subjects.
“It’s laws that we have to abide by, but I am very weary of it actually doing any good,” Ray said.
Some students agree with this theory that Campus Carry will make people less likely to speak up about their opinions. With guns in the room, it may make people uneasy and unaware of what the person next to them might do. Hakeer Kaymore, a business management major at Texas State, said he opposed the Campus Carry law.
“Students actually in class may feel more scared to speak up because of others reactions,” Kaymore said.
Students, like Business Administration Major, E.J. Garza and Biology Major, Kristen Courtney, are bothered by the fact that students around them on campus may have guns. Peers having concealed weapons may lead to students feeling unsafe.
"I just feel like a gun could land in the hands of the wrong person," Garza said. "Things can happen in a split second."
"People can get mad and act unintentionally," Courtney said.
To share your thoughts, learn more about what Campus Carry is and learn about Texas State University's Task Force visit Office of the President.
Campus Carry, also known as SB 11, has sparked conflict in universities across the state of Texas.
Senate Bill 11, which goes into effect August 1, obligates public universities in Texas to allow persons with a concealed handgun license to conceal a gun on university premises. Although a poll by the Texas Tribune shows that more than 50 percent of Texans support the new law, more than 40 percent do not.
 |
| Heather C. Galloway Photo By Ron Silva |
Professors, like students, want to feel safe on campus while doing their job. Some professors feel that with this new Campus Carry law going into effect, controversial discussions in the classroom will be put to a halt.
 |
| Keisha Ray Photo By Katherine Huerta |
"The campus environment does not improve by allowing students to legally carry firearms," Galloway said.
Keisha Ray, a professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, says she opposes the new law. Like Dean Galloway, Ray thinks the law will cause students to feel intimidated and not want to discuss their opinions on controversial subjects.
 |
| Hakeer Kaymore Photo By Bailey Savage |
“It’s laws that we have to abide by, but I am very weary of it actually doing any good,” Ray said.
Some students agree with this theory that Campus Carry will make people less likely to speak up about their opinions. With guns in the room, it may make people uneasy and unaware of what the person next to them might do. Hakeer Kaymore, a business management major at Texas State, said he opposed the Campus Carry law.
“Students actually in class may feel more scared to speak up because of others reactions,” Kaymore said.
 |
| Kristen Courtney Photo By Rebecca Mendoza |
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| E.J. Garza Photo By Judith Prieto-Rodriguez |
"I just feel like a gun could land in the hands of the wrong person," Garza said. "Things can happen in a split second."
"People can get mad and act unintentionally," Courtney said.
To share your thoughts, learn more about what Campus Carry is and learn about Texas State University's Task Force visit Office of the President.
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