Texas State students still split on campus carry laws

Texas State students still split on campus carry laws

By: Aiden Laurence

SAN MARCOS- Students at Texas State University share their opinions on the campus carry laws that were passed almost two years ago. 

The campus carry laws allows people to carry a concealed handgun on campus as long as you have a license. Some students support campus carry because they feel safer, but others disagree.  

Melanie Schuchert, accounting major

Melanie Schuchert, accounting major, says the campus carry rule makes her uncomfortable because of the recent school shootings. Schuchert tries to stay aware as possible on campus because you never know what could happen. 

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

History major Raul Cardoza would agree with Schuchert. Cardoza said that it should be hard for someone to get a license. 

“We go to a bigger university and you really don't know who is capable of what,” Cardzoa said. “I think there should be very strict rules on who can carry a concealed weapon.”

Zachary Fowler, a recent graduate, thinks there can be positivity in the campus carry laws but is unsure at the same time. 

“I think its nice to have people defending themselves, but the risk of accidents goes up with more guns around,” Fowler said. 

Sophomore Taylor Moody thinks that campus carry is great. He hasn't seen a rise in crime and said that Americans should have the right to carry because of the recent tragedies. 

“Mostly I believe that people who feel the need to carry a gun for protection will do it anyway,” Moody said. 

Other students don’t worry about campus carry. Brandon Willis, undergraduate, trusts the police officers on campus if something were to happen and hasn’t noticed anything happen since the law took effect.

Brandon Willis, undergraduate

“I have not seen, or rather, heard about any increases in violent crimes,” Willis said. “As a matter of fact, there has been very few violent crimes that I’ve heard of at all and almost none of them have been gun related.”

Gabriel Tirado, microbiology major, shares the same judgement as Willis and his own experience with someone who has a license to carry

“There's even a guy in one of my classes who had a concealed firearm, and he told us the last day of class, and people freaked out, but I couldn't understand the problem,” Tirado said. “I didn't notice all semester. And I don't think it's anything bad, because he was a good person.”