Campus carry still has Texas State divided two years later

Campus Carry still has Texas State divided two years later

By Michelle Moreno

Two years after it was enacted into law, students, faculty and staff at Texas State University are still divided in their opinions on the campus carry law.

In effect as of August 1, 2016, campus carry is a law that allows any individual who holds a valid license to carry a handgun to carry a concealed handgun on or about their person on the campus and certain other locations associated with a public institution of higher education.

When the law first came to pass, there was a lot of uncertainty around campus.

Esperanza Cuevas, 21-year-old psychology major, was fearful when the law first passed. “I was nervous about being on campus because I feared that maybe someone would get triggered by what people at the stallions were either protesting or discussing,” Cuevas said.

Jordan Crawford, 21, journalism major

Jordan Crawford, 21-year-old journalism major, held similar sentiments. “People can have poor judgment when they are threatened or scared, so people might be inclined to use their gun when it’s not necessary,” Crawford said.

There were some students who did not think the law passing was a big deal though. “I like the idea of carrying for protection so I thought it was fine,” said Zachary Fowler, 23-year-old graduate student.

Now, two years later, some have changed their minds on the law.

“Honestly, I almost forget that this bill was passed. Over time I kinda just forgot about it. It didn’t affect my studies and it didn’t prevent me from going to campus,” said Cuevas.

Even those that used to completely support the law now have their doubts. When asked whether he thought more people carrying on campus changed things in a positive or negative way, Fowler now is not sure.

“I’d like to say yes, but I’m conflicted,” Fowler said. “I think it’s nice to have people defending themselves, but the risk of accidents goes up with more guns around.”

Then there are those that have held the same beliefs over the last two years and are still upset and frightened about the possibilities more guns on campus have for everyone’s safety.

Nathaniel McGuff, 28, art major and custodian

“I feel less safe,” said Nathaniel McGuff, 28-year-old art major and custodian on campus. “NYPD hits 20 percent of the time with their guns, and they’re trained professionals. I don’t trust my fellow students or the school faculty with a gun in high-stress situations.”

Tammy Gonzales, 42, is the program coordinator at the Center for the Study of the Southwest on campus. She feels working in a department that celebrates minorities and their traditions while being a minority herself makes her more vulnerable to harassment and attacks. 

“We had those ‘Blood and Soil’ flyers on our doors last semester,” Gonzales said. “And there were stickers on the lamp posts. I felt threatened and targeted with all of the individuals on campus or in the area that feel they can lash out at minorities and people of color.”

Gonzales believes all of this racial tension only makes it less safe and less logical to have more guns on campus.

“I don’t bring my son on campus very much anymore because I don’t feel that it’s safe. I don’t want us to get caught up in something,” Gonzales said.

Kristi Madden, 45, administrative assistant at
the Center for Texas Music History

Kristi Madden, 45, is an administrative assistant at the Center for Texas Music History on campus who shares Gonzales’s feelings.

“I don’t even want to be at work, it doesn’t feel like a safe place,” Madden said. “And I don’t feel like I have an option, as a mother with a family, I don’t have the option of just going and finding another job where I feel safer.”

For some, the answer is simple.

“I think it should be repealed immediately,” McGuff said.

Others recognize that there are two sides to every story though.

“I understand that a lot of people that carry guns, they do it out of fear,” Madden said. “But I don’t think that campus carry or even in the state of Texas, people having concealed handguns, I don’t think it’s something that levels the playing field. I think that’s kind of what everyone else thinks, ‘if a bad guy is going to have a gun, then we should all have guns,’ and I completely disagree.”