Nearly 320 black, white and red signs are starting to go up on certain doors and windows, warning anyone approaching that starting Aug. 1, they can't bring their concealed handgun into the area.
That's when Senate Bill 11—better known as campus carry—goes into effect for Texas community colleges, and ACC Police Chief Lynn Dixon said preparations are underway to mark areas where concealed handguns aren't allowed, even with a permit.
"We're as ready as we can be," he said Friday, adding police officers are currently being trained on how to speak to someone who may have shown their concealed handgun inadvertently on campus.
He said if someone has a license to carry a concealed handgun and the gun is accidentally seen, that person will be given a written warning. If it happens again, more action will be taken.
Austin Community College Police Chief Lynn Dixon speaks to reporters about campus carry implementation.[/caption]Each campus will have certain exclusion zones, such as polling places, locations where prekindergarten through 12th-grade school-sponsored activities are held, testing centers and laboratories with dangerous chemicals, that ban concealed handguns.
If an area does not have a sign marking it as an exclusion zone, the licensed handgun carrier may carry their gun as long as it is hidden in something such as pockets or a backpack. No storage will be provided for hanguns, and employees should not store their handguns in desk drawers or cabinets.
Each professor will be required to show a short video that describes campus carry and ACC's exclusion zones on Aug. 1 and on the first day of the fall semester, Aug. 28.
Angela Aguilera, who is studying radiology at the Highland campus, said the idea of people carrying concealed handguns around her makes her a little nervous.
"I think it'll definitely be noticed," she said of the changes occurring on Aug. 1.
Robert Odom, a 55-year-old student pursuing an associate's degree in business administration, said he is not happy about the law.
"I think there's going to be protests out front," he said, adding he may participate in the protest because he does not see a reason for carrying a gun in a school. "Not knowing [who is carrying]—that's what bothers me."
Lockers for concealed handguns will not be provided.[/caption]The law went into effect for four-year Texas universities last year, and Gerald “Bob” Harkins—who headed the University of Texas campus carry implementation task force and serves as associate vice president of campus safety and security—said nothing out of the ordinary has happened since the law was implemented.
Development of ACC’s policy was modeled after the policies of four-year universities, according to Dixon.
