Texas is poised to become the second state in the United States to allow concealed handgun on its university campuses, reports The Associated Press.
Many advocates for handgun allowance on university campuses in Texas argue that it would make students safer against campus shootings. However, others are concerned that allowing handguns on campuses would only perpetuate the violence and make students more vulnerable to shootings.
The past several years have seen a great deal of gun violence occurring on university campuses throughout the country. In 2007, a Virginia Tech student shot and killed 32 students on campus. A year later, Northern Illinois became the site of another university shooting.
Then, in September of last year, a Texas A&M student shot several rounds from an assault rifle before killing himself, making many people worried.
The state of Utah is currently the only state to allow handguns to be brought onto its university campuses and the state of Colorado has allowed universities to determine their own stance on this issue, with many universities permitting handguns on school grounds.
The opening up of the law would surely have large repercussion for Texas, which is home to nearly 40 public universities and 500,000 students.
In the state, an adult over the age of 21 is allowed to carry a concealed handgun with appropriate license, given upon completing a handgun-handling training course and a background check.
It is unclear whether students would feel safer or more threatened with weapons allowed on campus. Many believe that the presence of guns would allow students to better defend themselves while others have expressed unease with knowing that someone sitting next to them in the classroom could be carrying a weapon.
“University of Texas President William Powers has opposed concealed handguns on campus, saying the mix of students, guns, and campus parties is too volatile,” reports AP.
Many advocates for handgun allowance on university campuses in Texas argue that it would make students safer against campus shootings. However, others are concerned that allowing handguns on campuses would only perpetuate the violence and make students more vulnerable to shootings.
The past several years have seen a great deal of gun violence occurring on university campuses throughout the country. In 2007, a Virginia Tech student shot and killed 32 students on campus. A year later, Northern Illinois became the site of another university shooting.
Then, in September of last year, a Texas A&M student shot several rounds from an assault rifle before killing himself, making many people worried.
The state of Utah is currently the only state to allow handguns to be brought onto its university campuses and the state of Colorado has allowed universities to determine their own stance on this issue, with many universities permitting handguns on school grounds.
The opening up of the law would surely have large repercussion for Texas, which is home to nearly 40 public universities and 500,000 students.
In the state, an adult over the age of 21 is allowed to carry a concealed handgun with appropriate license, given upon completing a handgun-handling training course and a background check.
It is unclear whether students would feel safer or more threatened with weapons allowed on campus. Many believe that the presence of guns would allow students to better defend themselves while others have expressed unease with knowing that someone sitting next to them in the classroom could be carrying a weapon.
“University of Texas President William Powers has opposed concealed handguns on campus, saying the mix of students, guns, and campus parties is too volatile,” reports AP.
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