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The student reporters of the KACU news team bring you the stories that affect our community.

Open Carry Legislation Passes in Texas House

Image by: https://www.flickr.com/photos/photobyaaron/
Image by: https://www.flickr.com/photos/photobyaaron/

The Texas Senate is currently trying to pass Senate Bill 11, legislation that would allow anyone with a concealed handgun license to enter a college campus with his or her weapon.

The House passed the matching bill, house Bill 11, in mid-March. This would change carry laws for college campuses across the state. Joe Cardot, Senate chair at Abilene Christian University, explains the different meanings of this bill for public and private universities.

"With this legislation, all campuses are being asked, or required, to have a conversation before a decision is made about what a particular campus will try to do unless it is funded by the state so the issue there is the schools that are funded by the state, if it passes, will be required to allow students to carry,” said Cardot. If the legislation passes, private schools could opt out of the law, but only after agreeing among various campus bodies.

"If you are a private institution and you intend to prohibit this now legal form of carry and concealed handguns, you have to consult with your students staff and faculty before you enact any local prohibition against that,” said Jimmy Ellison, ACUPD Chief of Police. Most schools have yet to meet and voice an opinion on the legislation, but ACU’s Student Association spoke out in favor of allowing campus carry if the bill passes.

"We felt as though, after consulting students, that it was in the best interest of the student body to align itself with the state law pending passage by voting in favor of licensed CHL owners to carry on campus,” said SA President, Beau Carter. Ellison is sure to point out proponents and opponents both have valid points, and stresses that faculty, staff and students all must meet at private universities to prohibit the law if it passes. While the Senate and House continue to debate this legislation, college students across the state will do the same.