Campus Communities Respond to Campus Carry

Campus Communities Respond to Campus Carry

By: Rilee Wong

SAN MARCOS, TEXAS - Texas State students express their thoughts on the campus carry law in effect after interviews across campus and other campus communities.

The campus carry law went into effect in August 1, 2016, allowing those who have their concealed handgun license to carry on campus. It has now been roughly 2 years since the law went into effect, Texas State sends out a class to gather individuals’ thoughts and feelings on how this law has or has not affected the campus community.

Victoria Reyna, 19, is majoring in criminal justice at Texas State. Her major allows her to be well educated on the gun laws like these and has her confident in her feelings on the issue.

She thinks of her future kids and feels that sending your child to school where you know the teachers have guns is just too “risky.”

The fear of it being too risky having your child at a school with guns around is not the only emotion members of the community have. It is also important for the community to feel educated on the laws to help better understand their emotion towards the law.

Summer Tierno

Summer C. Tierno, 30, a well-educated member of a Mississippi campus community feels that through the years she has been gradually more knowledgeable on these gun laws. “Working in higher education for several years and just completing my classes and comprehension exam for my PhD,” said Tierno, “I know a sufficient amount of information on current campus carry laws for my state, Mississippi, and other states.”

Aside from being educated on your states campus carry laws it is also important to understand there are people who believe that arming teachers, make them feel less safe. Nathaniel McGuff a member of the Fort Worth, Texas community shares that he feels less safe since the law has been enacted.

Melanie Schuchert

“I feel less safe,” Said McGuff. “NYPD hits 20% of the time with their guns, and they’re trained professionals. I don’t trust my fellow student or the school faculty with a gun in a high-stress situation.”

Along with feeling safe or not another factor to consider is what students or members of the community feel would happen if the law was not in place.

Melanie Schuchert native to Katy, TX provided how she feels the law could change or not change situations involving concealed weapons.

“In the end, a policy alone will not prevent someone from bringing and using a weapon, if he or she chooses to do so,” said Schuchert.

Even though there are people who have their doubts and fears, there are individuals who believe

that stand behind this law and believe that it does make a difference. Bryan Parks, a member of Texas Deer Association, is one of those individuals.

Bryan Parks

“I am for concealed hand gun licenses, there’s people every day who save people’s lives because they a gun on their person,” said Parks.

Although each individual has their own thoughts and opinions on campus carry, students on campus continue to express that they feel no difference since the law has been active.

Texas State Student Nidia Mendoza is one individual who shares how she does not see a change in campus atmosphere nor seen anyone practicing their right to carry on campus.

“I haven’t seen anybody carry a gun on campus other than UPD,” said Mendoza.

With all of this discussion about campus carry it all comes down to having each part of the communities’ thoughts, feelings, and concerns accounted for.

Communities continue to encourage people to stay well informed of the laws in their areas and let them know their concerns and comments are valued.