Thursday, February 18, 2016

Campus Carry Updates In Texas And Georgia


Two events in Texas and Georgia illustrate the advance of campus carry.

In the first event, University of Texas President Gregory L. Fenves said he "would bow to state law" regarding campus carry. He adopted the recommendations of the Campus Carry Working Group who has advised him on how to comply with the law. His decision will allow licensed concealed carry holders to carry in classrooms at the University of Texas. However, he will still work to ban firearms from most on-campus residential halls.

From the Austin Statesman:
“I do not believe handguns belong on a university campus, so this decision has been the greatest challenge of my presidency to date,” said Fenves, who has led the Austin flagship campus since June 3. “I empathize with the many faculty members, staffers, students and parents of students who signed petitions, sent emails and letters, and organized to ban guns from campus and especially classrooms.

“However, as president, I have an obligation to uphold the law. Under the law, I cannot adopt a policy that has the general effect of excluding licensed concealed handguns from campus. I agree with the working group that a classroom exclusion would have this effect.”
Fenves is confident his decision will stand up to challenges. However, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton has previously issued a non-binding advisory memo stating that dorms shouldn't be off-limits to firearms.

Moving on to Georgia, the House Public Safety and Homeland Security approved HB 859 which would allow concealed carry in school buildings including classrooms. However, the bill excludes carry from dorms, sorority and fraternity houses, and athletic facilities. The bill was passed out of committee on a 10-3 vote and now goes to the House Rules Committee before it is voted on by the entire Georgia House of Representatives.

If the Georgia bill passes the House, it will go on to the Georgia Senate. Not being a Georgian, I'm not sure of the bill's chances in the Senate. That body did remove campuses from an expansion of carry locations in a 2014 bill.


H/T Georgia Carry

4 comments:

  1. He also wants "semi-automatic handguns to be carried without a cartridge in the chamber" which is a safety no-no in at least 3 dimensions and wants to allow professors with "private" offices to be able to BAN carry in those offices in violation of state law.

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  2. +1 on 50cal. But concealed is concealed... :-)

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  3. Hell, I had an armory in the closet of my room in ye olde fraternity house.

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  4. Thanks for the post. People who are really concerned about their safety and security may take help from the gun licensing to have and own guns.The guns are mere safety device not the killing machines to harm innocent and pity people. For good training and legal licensing you can take help from the MA Gun License.

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