'Campus Carry' law passed in Texas
50 years after the infamous University of Texas shootings, the Texas State Government has ratified the 'Campus Carry' law which allows students to carry concealed licensed handguns on college campuses. Governor Greg Abott and the Republican majority in the Texas Government believe that the law will serve as a deterrent to college shootings. However, opinions on the law vary widely.
1966 - Univeristy of Texas Shootings
After killing his wife and his mother, army-trained sniper and engineering student Charles Whitman climbed to the top of a clock tower in the Austin campus of the University of Texas armed with pistols, rifles and a sawed off shotgun. Whitman killed 14 people and injured over 30 before the police managed to kill him. It remains one of the worst US gun-related incidents.
How many people in Texas legally own handguns?
According to latest estimates, over 1 million people in Texas have licenses to carry concealed handguns.
Gun laws in Texas
For over 20 years, Texas has allowed concealed handguns to be carried around in public, although the law did not include hospitals, campuses etc. However, in 2015, the Texas State Government passed a law which allowed licensed handgun holders to carry their weapons openly in public so long as their manner was not intended "to cause alarm".
Is it easy to obtain a handgun in Texas?
US Citizens residing in Texas can apply for a handgun license if they are above the age of 21 (18 if they are in military service). Applicants have to pass both shooting range courses and classroom courses before they can own a handgun.
Details of the law
Community colleges have time till August 2017 to adjust their security to allow for guns on campus. While the law allows licensed handgun holders to carry their weapons on campus and in classrooms, rules can vary. For instance, teachers might declare their offices to be gun-free zones. Similarly, colleges can opt to allow firearms only in common areas of dormitories.
