Senate Bill 11, otherwise known as Campus Carry, will be enacted August 2016 at all public colleges and universities in Texas. There are lengthy legal parameters that would have to be taken in order to have the law repealed. However, as it stands, it is the law. There is understandable fear regarding the new law and how it will be enacted. Some of this fear is well founded. On the other hand, a certain amount of fear is bred from unwilling ignorance. Therefore, knowledge is a great asset when coming to terms with the reality of Senate Bill 11.
The actual bill is a relatively short read and can be found here.
The bill was first received by the Secretary of State January 2015 and signed by Governor Abbott in June 2015. The law must be enforced by all “institutions of higher education” by August 2016. Public junior colleges have until August 2017 to implement this law.
Highlights from the bill:
1. Only licensed holders may carry a concealed handgun.
2. An institution of higher education “may not adopt any rule, regulation, or other provision prohibiting license holders from carrying handguns.”
3. “An institution…may establish rules, regulations or other provisions concerning the storage of handguns in dormitories or other residential facilities…”
4. The school is allowed to make “reasonable rules, regulations and other provisions” regarding “specific safety considerations” that fit the “uniqueness of the campus environment.” However, any rules that are in place cannot “generally prohibit…license holders from carrying concealed handguns….”
5. “No later than September 1 of each even-numbered year” every university or college has to send a report to the legislature that describes its “rules, regulations or other provisions [and] explains the reasons for the provisions…”
6. The school can prevent licensed holders from carrying when “an activity sponsored by the institutions is being conducted, or a passenger transportation vehicle owned by the institution.”
November 2015, the University of Houston hosted an open forum that allowed all members of the UH community, faculty and students to express their concerns, offer suggestions and pose questions regarding the implementation and logistics of the law on campus. The next open forum will be held at the in March 2016.
Highlights from November 2015 Open Forum
How can we make sure that people who are not allowed to carry illegally enter a gun free zone?
Training student and faculty who want to carry handguns into campus and potential armory locations.
Gun Free UH Advocate
"Concealed carry holders are not criminals"
Full Video
