Guns-on-campus bill gets first OK(TX)

statesman.com ^ | 16 March, 2011 | Mike Ward

[marktwain]

W. Scott Lewis, a student at Austin Community College, says he "just wants the means to defend himself" should a gunman open fire on his classroom. He advocates changing state law to allow licensed handguns on campuses.

"This is about personal security, not campus security," said the 31-year-old handgun licensee. "This is about changing the odds."

Just as adamant with the opposite view is John Woods , a doctoral student at the University of Texas at Austin who was a Virginia Tech student in April 2007 when a lone gunman shot down 32 people, including several of his close friends.

"These bills will not make campuses safer," he told a legislative committee Wednesday.

As the controversial issue of guns on college campuses got its first public hearing at the state Capitol on Wednesday, a standing-room-only crowd staked their positions on five House bills that would allow licensed handguns to be carried on public university and college campuses, at public junior colleges and at public technical schools.

The main bill, carried by Rep. Joe Driver, R-Garland , was approved 5-3 late Wednesday by the Homeland Security and Public Safety Committee. It proceeds to the full House. A similar Senate bill is set to be discussed in a public hearing next week.

Under current law, handgun licensees can carry concealed weapons on campus grounds and parking lots, but not inside buildings. The proposed laws would allow them in buildings. Driver said the issue applies mostly to faculty, staff and parents because most students would be too young to qualify for a concealed handgun license, which are limited to those 21 and older.

With dozens of co-authors for the five bills in the 150-member House — Driver's House Bill 750 has more than 80 — House leaders said it appears likely that

[marktwain]

There is no legitimate reason for public sponsored institutions to deny Constitutional rights on their premises.

[American Quilter]

So John Woods lost “several close friends” to the Virginia Tech killer, and apparently would be willing to do so again.

[grobdriver]

"These bills will not make campuses safer," he told a legislative committee Wednesday.

That's not the intent, chump.
It would make someone safer who was sitting in the corner of a room, weapon facing out, waiting for some nutcase to choose their room to come and kill someone in.

The rest of the campus can fend for itself.

[arderkrag]

Exactly. It makes no sense whatsoever.

[Texas Fossil]

Memory. Austin & College Campus Gunfire:

the tower sniper

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Whitman

“Ramiro Martinez, an officer who participated in stopping Whitman’s rampage, later stated that the civilian shooters should be credited as they made it difficult for him to take careful aim.”

—

Yep, at that time it was appreciated that “civilian shooters” appeared to return fire at that sniper.

Of course the University of Texas has taken a noticeable “left turn” since August 1, 1966.

[basil]

Just as adamant with the opposite view is John Woods , a doctoral student at the University of Texas at Austin who was a Virginia Tech student in April 2007 when a lone gunman shot down 32 people, including several of his close friends.

This guy is what I call a really slow learner......

[SIDENET]

Just as adamant with the opposite view is John Woods , a doctoral student at the University of Texas at Austin who was a Virginia Tech student in April 2007 when a lone gunman shot down 32 people, including several of his close friends.

Yeah, John. Tell us how well those gun-free zones work.

Genius.

[Oldpuppymax]

Liberals have been indoctrinated into believing that Big Brother will take care of them. The notion that someone might wish to be responsible for himself is both foreign and dangerous.