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