Texas State Campus Carry

Campus Carry Laws Coming Soon to Texas State
By Cameron Eklund

Texas State University students have been interviewed to see their reactions to the new laws regarding campus carry.

The campus carry law that will come into effect August 2016 will allow people to carry a concealed weapon with a handgun license on Texas State University property. This date is fast approaching, and a number of students were interviewed to see their reactions to this law. Many students have expressed feeling some uncertainty, while others fully support it.

Arte Vega
Photo by Gabrielle Gibson

"I support it," Arte Vega said. When asked why, Vega responded "Because of course the second amendment. The right to bear arms."

Not everyone is as supportive of campus carry as Vega is. Many students feel even more unsafe than before because they claim we do not know what goes on in the minds of everyone who owns a gun.

Alex Molina
Photo by Logan Martin

"I don't know the mind set of a student carrying a gun," Alex Molina said, sophomore Political Science major. "How am I to know that the person carrying a weapon is actually a student. Anyone could put a backpack on, come to campus and appear as a student. I can't tell who is a student and who is not." 

Rachel Brownlee
Photo by Dylan Anguiano

Rachel Brownlee, 27 year old Human Nutrition major, is very concerned for these new laws to come into effect and says that college is way too stressful of a time to bring weapons into the mix.

 "It's unsafe because of the emotional aspect, but also, I don't trust any person that has a handgun even though a lot of people train, they go to the shooting range, maybe they have used guns their whole life. In a situation, someone who really in an emergency situation may not be able to use it properly," Brownlee said.

Students and faculty have voiced their concerns over this topic and have said there might be a change in classroom dynamic now that guns are added into the picture.

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

Bob Fischer
Photo by Sawyer Stull 

When asked who they think the new gun laws will impact the most, Freshman Mandy Espinoza said "The professors. The gun could go off in the large lecture rooms."

Mandy Espinoza
Photo by Kelsey Maxfield

"There're good and bad sides to it," Michael Pearce said, 20 year old Business Marketing major. "I'm against it because I feel like you're not gonna ask everyone on campus, 'Hey do you have your license for that gun?' so it kind of scares me. I’m for it because responsible citizens usually know how to carry weapons so if there's a responsible person that can handle the situation, it’s a good thing."

Michael Pearce
Photo by Cameron Goodall 

After numerous interviews with faculty and students, it is very evident that there are many different views on campus carry.