Guns on Campus

By Katherine Huerta

Campus carry has become a prominent issue due to the abundant school shootings around the nation. 

Photo of Rachel Brownlee
Photo by Dylan Anguiano 

KTSW radio station said, Texas State University, along with other public universities in the state of Texas, will be permitted to have concealed campus carry as of August 1. However, there were still recommendations that the Texas State Task Force put in the hands of students and residents through the use of forums. 

In these forums students like, Human Nutrition major, Rachel Brownlee, were able to state their opinions on campus carry. 

“College is very stressful and on one hand students are able to explore new ways to be in a relationship with other people, new freedom, power over their own life,” Brownlee said. “They’re in this stressful situation that can make people do crazy things. “ 

According to NationalConference of State Legislatures, the shooting in Virginia Tech University in 2007 was where the debate over guns on campus sparked. This shooting was seen as one of the most deadly shootings on campus. The aftermath of this event was self-evident that rules regarding campus carry had to be set.

Photo of Keisha Ray
Photo by Katherine Huerta

As the Texas Tribune states, Richard Benson, was a professor at Virginia Tech University when the shooting occurred and is now in the process of becoming the president of University of Texas at Dallas. He is now facing the newly approved laws of campus carry and hopes that the events of Virginia Tech University will not repeat.

Professors also have very strong opinions regarding campus carry. They are especially concerned over the safety of students when it comes to discussing controversial topics.

“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 topics if they know that their classmates have a weapon,” said

Photo of Aron Martinez
Photo by Griselda Benitez

Keisha Ray, professor at University of Texas Health Science at Houston.

There are students, like English Major, Aron Martinez, who are immensely concerned about going to class knowing other students could be in possession of a gun.

“It is scary being in big classrooms not knowing who has a gun. You don’t know what people are capable of,” Martinez said.