Guns on University campuses, legal?
 

So today in my Government class my professor brought to light a bill that is currently going through legislation in Texas. If passed the bill would allow people that have CHLs(Concealed Handgun License) to carry their weapon on campuses legally onto all Texas universities. The purpose of this would be to allow students in a Virgina Tech type situation to defend themselves against any would be killer. One proposition was that the professors would have lists of those that had CHLs in their classroom. Any thoughts?

Note: The process of acquiring a CHL is expensive and thorough with background checks among other things.

Here's the link about CHLs if you want to go in depth. Texas Department of Public Safety - Regulatory Licensing Service Concealed Handgun Licensing

That bill has raised a lot of media attention, as it should.
As one who believes in gun ownership, but also in licensing them and responsible ownership, I also work at a university.

I have a problem with this bill, because I do not feel that any weapon belongs in a classroom unless it is as a teaching tool.

But I also feel I should be able to carry it in my vehicle that is parked on campus, if I have a legal permit to transport it.

This bill is very poorly written and needs to be killed, before it gets students and faculty killed by being passed.

What could possibly be gained by giving the professor the list of who is carrying a gun? That sounds like a dangerous idea and a violation of rights.

Im not to sure if letting the students have a gun is a great idea but i would understand if an teacher/professor had one so he/she could protect the students.

Don't worry about it. It'll never pass in 1,000,000 years.

This is the same state that eliminated contraception education from its schools textbooks and is now requiring intelligent design and creationism talk in biology textbooks. Don't tell Texas what they can and can't do.

I think if you want to have a gun outside your home, it should always be on you... Leaving it in a vehicle is no way a good idea any day of the week!

isn't America the safest country in the world?

you can't be serious?

could you please specify what you mean by "safe"

Even assuming that to be true (I've never researched the statistics), horrible things like Virginia Tech do happen here.

Texas legislators are attempting to improve that level of safety.

That being said, I agree with MMM -- nothing good can come of providing professors with a list of licensed students.