I went to Canada a few years ago. The immigration officer was friendly, asking all the usual questions about where I was from, visiting for business or pleasure, etc. Her last question threw me off guard. “Are you carrying any firearms?”
I answered with wide eyes, “Why would you think that?”
“You’re from Texas. Doesn’t everyone carry a gun?”
Along with, “Do you have a horse?” and “Are people still traveling in covered wagons?”, I've been asked the question a lot.
The question of “Are you carrying a firearm?” may not be so ill placed come next year. The “campus carry” bill was approved by 20 to 11 in a preliminary count by the state Senate last week. Following the final vote on Thursday, the bill will then head to the state House.
Along with, “Do you have a horse?” and “Are people still traveling in covered wagons?”, I've been asked the question a lot.
The question of “Are you carrying a firearm?” may not be so ill placed come next year. The “campus carry” bill was approved by 20 to 11 in a preliminary count by the state Senate last week. Following the final vote on Thursday, the bill will then head to the state House.
During the last week, there have been Facebook and Twitter rallies by students and UNT faculty throwing opinions around like a hyped-up tennis match. Although I haven’t conducted an official public-opinion poll, the consensus seems to be, “We don’t want guns on our campus.” So what gives?
“Texas is one of 15 states this year where bills have been introduced to allow arms on campus,” said Andy Pelosi, the director of a campaign called Keep Guns Off Campus. “The trend is backed by the gun lobby which seems to be picking one state a year.”
The current law allows public universities in Texas to decide whether they will allow guns on campus or not. Only Texas A&M has chosen to do so. Under the new law, public universities will be required to allow open-carry while private universities will be allowed to choose.
The gun lobby argues that the presence of concealed handguns will reduce violent crime. However, there are some officials who doubt this claim.
“There is great concern that the presence of handguns, even if limited to licensed individuals age 21 or older, will lead to an increase in both accidental shootings and self-inflicted wounds,” said University of Texas System Chancellor, William McRaven, in an open letter to lawmakers.
GOP leaders are not backing down and have fired back with their own reasons.
"Students have expressed concerns to me about their ability to protect themselves," said the bill's author, Sen. Brian Birdwell, R-Granbury, "It's time we don't imperil their safety."
"CHL classes are not exactly rigorous. I don't have confidence that someone besides a trained police officer would know how to take down a a shooter," says Dr. Tracy Everbach, associate professor at the University of North Texas. "I don't really se what guns and education have to do with each other. My main concern is some kind of accident or error. Some kid not knowing how to properly handle a gun."
This law should not pass for several reasons, number one being student, faculty and administrators resistance. Another reason has to do with age. The law requires the minimum age to be 21 and the carrier must have a CHL (concealed handgun license).
"CHL classes are not exactly rigorous. I don't have confidence that someone besides a trained police officer would know how to take down a a shooter," says Dr. Tracy Everbach, associate professor at the University of North Texas. "I don't really se what guns and education have to do with each other. My main concern is some kind of accident or error. Some kid not knowing how to properly handle a gun."
This law should not pass for several reasons, number one being student, faculty and administrators resistance. Another reason has to do with age. The law requires the minimum age to be 21 and the carrier must have a CHL (concealed handgun license).
“Parties, drinking, college kids 21-years-old or not. What are these people thinking?” said Stephanie Darnell, a UNT senior. “This law is supposed to allow us to protect ourselves, but what if the wrong person knows who has the gun and uses it against them? You have to be able to get to it or hope your backpack doesn’t get ‘accidentally’ picked up in case it might have a gun in it?”
There will be restrictions on keeping firearms in dormitories, although those regulations have not been made clear.
It’s true that I’m not a gun enthusiast. I have pink pepper spray on my key chain, and I recently checked out Cabela’s stock of stun guns, including the 800K volt Zapstick (...with a flashlight. I hope they have it in pink). However, I am not opposed to responsible ownership of firearms. People love their guns, and our constitution ensures our right to bear arms. Citizens should be allowed the right to protect themselves and their families.
But this university? Not the place.
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