With State Senate Bill 11 likely to be signed by Gov. Greg Abbott, the Lone Star College System continues to assess the financial, staffing and social effects the campus carry legislation could pose on faculty and students at the system’s campuses.
The legislation would require the state’s public universities to allow handguns in dormitories, classrooms and campus buildings, according to the bill’s text. SB 11 was approved by the House of Representatives and Senate and sent to the desk of Gov. Greg Abbott on June 1. Abbott has 10 days after the bill was signed by both chambers to sign, veto or allow it to become law.
College systems around the Greater Houston area, such as LSCS, are analyzing the legislation’s potential effects.
“It’s two levels: One is what are the safety concerns we need to look at either positively or negatively of having guns on campus, and what is the impact on the learning environment,” said Ray Laughter, LSCS vice chancellor for external affairs. “Those are issues we will take very seriously in the best way to implement what [the Legislature] might pass.”
The final version of the bill approved by both chambers allows universities and colleges to establish gun-free zones and rules for how the weapons are stored on campuses. Only concealed handgun license holders would be allowed to bring firearms on campus.
Under the modified bill with amendments from the Senate, private universities would be allowed to opt out of campus carry, according to the amended legislation.
Texas community colleges have until August 2017 to implement the new legislation. In the interim LSCS will begin its adjustment period, according to the district.
“[LSCS will] implement the new requirements of the law in effect at that time,” said Jed Young, LSCS executive director of communications. “In the meantime LSC will continue to gather input from students, faculty, staff, community members and the Lone Star College Police Department about campus carry implementation recommendations.”
During this session, LSCS officials advocated for an amendment that would allow local trustees and university regents to opt out of SB 11, Laughter said. It was not included in the final bill.
“We’ve been expressing [local control] to our legislators as a good option,” Laughter said. “Every campus is different—some have day care centers, dormitories and some have high school students taking classes. All of those factors have different types of issues that might affect having guns on campus.”
The previous law allowed those with a concealed handgun license to bring handguns to campus, but the weapons must be left secured in vehicles, Laughter said.
Residents must be 21 years of age or older to obtain a CHL, and an estimated 59 percent of LSCS students are 21 or older, according to demographic data.
In preparation for SB 11, LSCS held two public forums in late March to educate the community and gather feedback. The majority of students who attended the forums were not in favor of campus carry, Laughter said.
“I’m very pleased that our board and our administration involved students and faculty in that discussion early on before we had any kind of discussion at the board level,” he said. “It’s a really important step we took. We felt we owed them an opportunity to do that.”
