A proposed Texas legislative bill could repeal the ban of concealed handgun licenses on college campuses. (Photo Illustration by MICHAEL DANSER/The Daily Campus)
Gun rights have been an issue in America since its origins. Two hundred years later, the American public still disagrees on the Second Amendment’s right to bear arms and its implications.
Texas State Legislature recently proposed legislation that would allow people with concealed handgun licenses (CHLs) to carry guns onto college campuses. However, guns cannot be carried inside buildings.
The new law mandates public universities to comply, but allows for private universities to decide whether to uphold the law or not.
“I’m glad SMU is a private institution and is therefore not bound to this law,” sophomore Katrina Leshan said.
Brad Cheves, vice president for Development and External Affairs, said, “While the intent of the proposed legislation is laudable, we believe…this legislation will have unintended consequences that cause greater risk to…the university community.”
Applying for a CHL demands several rounds of scrutiny, including classes, psychiatric evaluations, application and class fees, shooting tests and background checks. Applicants must be either over 21 years old or in the military.
Those in favor of this law argue that persons with a CHL are less likely to commit a crime and could protect students in the event of a shooting.
CHL holders are also taught to protect the area where they are in the event of a shooting, not to seek out the shooter.
History major Michael Hamel has had his CHL for over a year.
“By definition, criminals don’t follow the law,” Hamel said. “It boils down to the bad guys having guns or both the bad and good guys having guns. Criminals are going to bring guns on campus to hurt people regardless of what the law states.”
Journalism major Paz Beatty is in favor of the new law.
“Guns and Texas go hand-in-hand, so why shouldn’t they be allowed on college campuses? Most campuses are open to the public anyway, unlike secondary schools, so the need for defense is as high as if you were walking the streets,” Beatty said.
Agreeing with Beatty, political science major Harvey Luna believes this law would benefit “faculty and staff that own guns but can’t bring them to their place of work… it would put a check on how much damage a person with mal intent can cause.”
However, many students oppose it.
Freshman Brittany Levingston is “petrified” at this prospect. Levingston does not believe “solving school shootings by allowing guns” has merit.
English professor Vicki Tongate is “very uneasy” and does not “think it will promote safety,” but rather “an atmosphere where more tragedies could happen.”
Tongate acknowledges the use of guns for the purposes of hunting and home protection, but believes they are inappropriate for a college campus.
International students Rodrigo Garza and Kristoffer Balteskard disagree with the new CHL legislative.
Garza does not find it necessary to possess a CHL.
“In Mexico, it would be necessary to carry a gun, but I don’t think in America you should,” Garza said.
“In England, most police don’t even have one. Guns just escalate the violence,” Balteskard said.
