Texas College Campus Concealed Carry Law Is Dangerous The most famous Texas mass college shooting tragically happened on August 1, 1966 in Austin, Texas by Charles Whitman on the University of Texas campus that killed 16 and injured 31 people. According to a 2006 Texas Monthly article, there were multiple students who returned fire and it was police officers who eventually killed Whitman. There was mass confusion and in interviews after the event, students felt that the return gunfire could have jeopardized those that were seeking safety. Since 1966 there has been conflicting views on whether this was the right way to fight back. There is a new Texas law that went into effect on August 1, 2016, the 50th anniversary of the UT shooting, which …show more content…
Greg Abbott and the Republican legislative majority in 2016. According to the Texas Government Code – Eligibility 411.172, if you have a Texas handgun license, you are eligible to carry on campus. The license is available if you are 21 yrs. old, pass classroom and a gun range training course. Convicted felons and people with a history of mental illness have restrictions. Guns are allowed in buildings, dorms, classrooms and campuses can decide where weapons will be allowed. They have to provide a map where guns are not allowed. Open carry is not allowed. As of August 1, 2016 private schools have the option of either allowing or banning guns at their campuses and public universities can carry. August 1, 2017 the act becomes effective for public junior colleges. There are arguments for and against college carry on campus. Either way, this new normal will need to be understood, respected and followed as law. To me, this law has the potential to increase risk for additional violence, confusion and therefore I think more …show more content…
In my opinion, I believe college carry has a higher risk to inflict danger instead of safety. These individuals who have a CHL to carry take a course and exam for their CHL, but are they trained in combat situations? If they don’t have a military or police background then are we relying on them to remain calm and accurate in a dire situation? I feel these individuals should take a response training class to an active shooter scenario consistently and test in active simulated situations. Would you want a Neurosurgeon to operate on your brain if they only did it every 5 to 10 years? I believe there is room for improvement to this law and I hope that Texans require a higher level of education for these individuals who choose to carry on