Implementing Senate Bill 11, University of Texas at Austin president Gregory L. Fenves announced earlier this week that students with concealed carry permits will now be able to carry their guns into classrooms on the campus.
Despite the passing adopting the policies of the bill, Fenves expressed his opinion that guns should not be allowed on the campus of the school.
“I do not believe handguns belong on a university campus, so this decision has been the greatest challenge of my presidency to date,” Fenves wrote in an email to the school community. “I empathize with the many faculty, staff, students and parents of students who signed petitions, sent emails and letters, and organized to ban guns from campus and especially classrooms. As a professor, I understand the deep concerns raised by so many. However, as president, I have an obligation to uphold the law.”
Law in the state of Texas requires that all concealed carry license holders be given the ability to carry their weapons in public universities. In addition to this Fenves adopted 25 policy recommendations that were developed by the 19-member Campus Carry Working Group he appointed last year regarding how exactly handguns are to be carried.
Under the policies, certain laboratories, areas where pre-K-12 programs are held, and, with some exceptions, university residences will be considered gun exclusion zones, and employees with private offices will be able to prohibit handguns inside them. Classrooms will not be included in gun exclusion zones.
Senate Bill 11 takes effect Aug. 1. Under state law, the open carry of handguns will continue to be prohibited on campus and in university buildings.
H/T: UT News
