Senate Bill 1907

According to Sen. Glenn Hegar, R-Katy, colleges and universities currently prohibit pistols from the campus, including in the parking lots. His measure Senate Bill 1907 would allow students with their concealed-handgun permits to have their pistols in their vehicles in the campus parking lots. Students without this permit are still not allowed to have anything on campus. For students to get this permit, they have to be over the age of 21 and pass the state licensing requirements. There is already a law that allow the employees of universities with concealed handgun licenses to leave their pistols in their cars, which was enacted two years ago.

Hegar filed the bill Monday, and got an almost unanimous Senate vote to do so after the filing deadline was passed. The only opposing vote was Sen. Jose Rodriguez, D-El Paso, because he believes guns are “in a parking lot this year, and in buildings next time.” The tragedies that have happened over the past few months have some people opposing this bill, thinking it’s too soon. Committee Chairman John Whitmire, D-Houston, isn’t for campus carry, but voted on this bill since it’s only a “carry-your-gun-on-campus-and-store-it-in-your-car-while-you-go-to-class-bill.”

I am for this bill because I don’t see any danger or anything wrong in having students that are licensed to keep their gun in their vehicles. The students are already allowed to carry their guns where they go off campus, so why shouldn’t they be able to just leave them in a car?  This being passed would keep students that need to leave their guns in their vehicles out of trouble and avoid breaking the current rules. I’m already for guns being allowed on campus for those with concealed handgun licenses, so I don’t see a problem with this issue either. 

My Comments on "Safety is important. We must allow open carry in Texas"

I read Austin's blog, "Safety is Important. We must allow open carry in Texas," where he discusses his view on open carry in Texas. He strongly believes that it should be allowed. I agree that it should be allowed to create a safer place to live.

I like how Austin started off with the 2nd Amendment and also how he compared the relaxed gun law state to the states with strict laws. I agree with his point about the crime rates dropping because the carrier, and possible victim, would have a weapon to defend themselves out in the open. Someone looking to cause trouble with another person would most likely change their mind when they realized that the person could easily stop anything from happening, and they would be putting their own life at risk if they still went through with it. I also agree with his last sentences: "The time HAS come to change our gun laws, but not in the way that the mainstream media wants to report. A vote for open carry is a vote for a safer place for all of us."

One dislike I had about this editorial was that there wasn't a link to lead me to a site with more information on the topic or see where he found some of his information. I also feel that his editorial was mostly his opinion on the subject. The opinions are great, but I think it could be a stronger editorial with facts and credible resources.

Overall, Austin did well writing his editorial, but some facts would only make it better.