House passes campus carry

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Houston Chronicle

House passes campus carry

By Lauren McGaughy | May 27, 2015 | Updated: May 27, 2015 12:09am

AUSTIN – The state House passed campus carry late Tuesday, just minutes before opponents of the controversial legislation would have been able to kill it by running out the clock.

Before passing Senate Bill 11 by a vote of 101-47 just before midnight, the House drastically watered down the measure by amending it to allow each campus to determine where they would allow campus carry. Another House amendment would mandate private universities also implement the legislation.

Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, who tried to kill the bill through a number of procedural maneuvers, said he believes there was still a good chance to defeat the legislation.

"This is not over 'til it's over. The notion that we could take an entire day and fight campus carry until 11:35, 11:40 at night, it's a significant accomplishment, to know there are negotiated changes to make this proposition much more difficult to become a legislative reality," said Martinez Fischer.


Read more: http://www.chron.com/about/article/House-passes-campus-carry-6288148.php

[TexasTowelie]

1. I don't believe that many campuses in Texas are willing to allow for campus carry.

I went to a private university and I'm reasonably certain that they are against the bill. Hopefully the bill will die in the Senate.

[Hoppy]

3. I bet Jesus's campuses will go for it.

[hack89]

5. It will only effect public universities

private schools can set their own policies.

[deutsey]

2. What could possibly go wrong?

[hack89]

4. Past history says very little if anything

it is not like Texas is the first state to pass such a law - only 23 states ban the practice while 7 have laws similar to Texas. The rest fall somewhere in between the two extremes.

[deutsey]

7. Time will tell

as it always does.

[hack89]

8. Time has already told us a lot

it will not cause major problems.

[deutsey]

9. Thanks for the reassurance

[hack89]

10. You are welcome. nt

[WatchWhatISay]

17. Time will never tell

Remember, this is Texas. These people don't learn, they just rationalize.

[Duckhunter935]

6. Probably nothing

[GGJohn]

11. Judging by past experiences of the states that do allow it,

nothing will happen.

[deutsey]

12. Well, there will be some impact

https://www.insidehighered.com/news/2015/03/30/push-concealed-guns-campuses-gaining-steam

Idaho’s campus carry law went into effect in July, and the required metal detectors, employee training and additional staff cost $3.7 million for five campuses.

In Florida, the State University System hasn't put out a cost estimate. The Houston Chronicle reported that the Texas law is estimated to cost up to $47 million over six years for the University of Houston and University of Texas systems to update security, build gun lockers and prepare campus police. Much of the estimate comes from the M.D. Anderson Cancer Center’s University Police Department, which said it would have to spend $22 million.

A spokeswoman for the University of Texas system confirmed those estimates were part of the fiscal notes the campuses provided for the bill. But Students for Concealed Carry, a national group of students, parents and faculty members pushing for concealed weapons, disputes those numbers.

[GGJohn]

13. There's always financial impact to new laws,

but as far as the safety aspect, there won't be shootings because a teacher gives a bad grade, teacher's won't be afraid to give bad grades because of this law, etc.

All the hand wringers have been proven wrong in the past and will be proven wrong again.

[deutsey]

14. I hope you're right

Not being a "hand-wringer" myself nor a "gun nut", for that matter (I'm somewhere in between), I can't say I share your certainty, frankly.

But I won't mind if I'm proven wrong.

As a parent struggling to scrape together money for my kids to go to college, I also don't shrug off extra costs that will make it even harder to pay for tuition.

[GGJohn]

15. I feel for you.

The cost of a college education these days is astronomical.
Bernie Sanders idea of free college education strikes a chord in me, although our kids are grown, educated and employed.
Good luck with the tuition.

[deutsey]

16. Thank you!

[vkkv]

18. That is impossible to say GG

Generally, societies will tend to USE something that is made accessible and approved for use..

[GGJohn]

25. We can only go by the example of other states and campuses that allow for CCW,

so far, it's been a non event, which will most likely be the same in TX.

[vkkv]

19. Could other universities refuse to be a visiting team in sports events due to

the possibility of a shooting of an opposing team member or fan after a tough loss?

[Evasporque]

20. nothin like a good old time Texas academic shootout....nt

eom

[GGJohn]

26. And yet, not one shooting at other campuses that have allowed for CCW for years.

Why is that?

[Judi Lynn]

21. Misguided open carry, campus carry legislation demonstrates need for student voices in civic process

Misguided open carry, campus carry legislation demonstrates need for student voices in civic process

Published on May 27, 2015 at 1:47 pm

By The Daily Texan Editorial Board


As the 84th Texas Legislature nears the end of its session, gun rights appear to be among the accomplishments Gov. Greg Abbott and Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick will herald the next time either runs in a Republican primary election. The legislature gave its all-but-final-approval to both open carry, passed May 22, and campus carry, passed May 26. HB 910 allows concealed handgun license-holders to openly display their firearms in public. SB 11, meanwhile, allows those licensees to take their weapons onto the campuses and into the buildings of public universities, including The University of Texas at Austin.

Only a few formalities separate the aforementioned legislation from Abbott’s desk. The House and Senate versions of both open carry and campus carry, respectively, must go through a conference committee in order to clear up any differences. A chance remains that the proposals, particularly campus carry, may not get to Abbott’s desk by the legislative deadline on June 1, but that does not appear likely.

The proposals are a dangerous means of disrupting public comfort for many and a flagrant dismissal of public opinion. The ability to openly display firearms in public will generate unnecessary tension, while the ability to carry firearms on campus will stifle the learning and growing processes.

A pair of amendments proposed by state Rep. Harold Dutton (D-Houston) and state Sen. Don Huffines (R-Dallas) will exacerbate these issues by restricting law enforcement from asking those openly carrying to show their CHLs. This effectively eliminates any need to obtain a CHL, and gives everyone, even those who are barred from obtaining a CHL such as convicted felons, the ability to openly carry.

More:
http://www.dailytexanonline.com/2015/05/27/misguided-open-carry-campus-carry-legislation-demonstrates-need-for-student-voices-in

[Judi Lynn]

22. Democrats end delays, allow vote on campus gun bill

Democrats end delays, allow vote on campus gun bill
 12:36 p.m. Wednesday, May 27, 2015

After frenzied late-night negotiations on the House floor, Texas House Democrats abruptly ended their slowdown tactics late Tuesday, allowing Republicans to give initial approval to a measure allowing guns to be carried in university dorms, classrooms and other buildings.

With only 20 minutes remaining before a drop-dead midnight deadline would have killed the so-called campus carry bill, Democrats voluntarily pulled down more than 100 pending amendments to allow a vote that gave initial approval, 101-47, to Senate Bill 11.

Final approval is expected Wednesday, returning the bill to the Senate, where Republicans can be expected to take a dim view of changes made late Tuesday on the House floor.

After the vote, Rep. Trey Martinez Fischer, D-San Antonio, said Democrats ended their delays after winning a key concession with an approved amendment allowing colleges and universities to have limited authority on banning guns in certain campus areas.

More:
http://www.statesman.com/news/news/democrats-end-delays-allow-vote-on-campus-gun-bill/nmPhc/

[ManiacJoe]

23. Do folks really fear university staff members that much?

Since a concealed carry permit requires you do be over 21, this rules out all by half of the senior class for traditional students.
That leaves the older (nontraditional students) and the profs and the staff.
Where is the problem that folks are seeing?

[Judi Lynn]

24. Tea party House members launch retaliatory attacks

Tea party House members launch retaliatory attacks
Christy Hoppe Email [e-mail]
Published: May 27, 2015 12:21 pm



Rep. Jonathan Stickland, wearing a gun lapel pin, smiles during debate of HB 910, an open carry bill, in the House Chamber at the Capitol on Friday April 17, 2015. JAY JANNER / AMERICAN-STATESMAN ORG


UPDATE 1:07 p.m.: Nevermind.

The Republican-led coalition removed their objections and allowed some bills to be reconsidered.
Thompson’s bill to allow video monitoring of special needs classroom – an important issue in the Plano school district – was passed.

. . .

Others have not been so lucky. Rep. Gene Wu, D-Houston, tweeted out that it is retribution “by all the members who have felt disrespected over the Session.”

ORIGINAL POST - Led by Rep. Jonathan Stickland, R-Bedford, tea party members started killing off bills that have wide support but were mainly sponsored by Democrats and some moderate Republicans.

Stickland had been irked by Democratic-led maneuvers to kill and water down bills that would have imposed abortion restrictions and the right to carry guns on college campuses. He also expressed anger that the House had agreed to disclose the donors of so-called “dark money” – from third parties trying to influence elections and public policy.

More:
http://trailblazersblog.dallasnews.com/2015/05/tea-party-house-members-launch-retaliatory-attacks-against-dems.html/

[RKP5637]

27. Ridiculous! Yep, more guns, that will help. Yet another WTF! n/t

[GGJohn]

28. Can you point to a problem with CCW at other campuses that have allowed for it for years? eom.

[RKP5637]

29. My opinion! I choose to live in a society where people do not cower in fear! n/t

[GGJohn]

30. Why would people cower in fear? eom.

[RKP5637]

31. Apparently they are fearful if they need firearms. n/t

[RKP5637]

33. However, that said, I understand and support Pink Pistols. So, you can say I have some mixed

feelings on this one.

[GGJohn]

34. Fair enough, and I too do support Pink Pistols. eom.