UT Austin faculty want their classes out of "campus carry" Copyright by KXAN - All rights reserved Copyright by KXAN - All rights reserved Concealed handguns coming to college campuses in Texas prev next

AUSTIN (KXAN) -- People with concealed handgun licenses will soon be able to bring their weapons into college classrooms in Texas. But a group of professors hope to make UT Austin as gun-free as possible.

In a conference room at Garrison Hall, the steering committee of Gun-Free UT brainstorm how to keep guns out of their classrooms.

"I have to say most of us didn't think this law would pass because it seems very wrong to us," said Joan Neuberger from the History Department at UT.

Schools in Texas have until next year to determine where CHL holders can carry. These UT employees want those rules to be as strict as possible

"People need to be able to disagree, dissent, present controversial opinions in a classroom, without fear of a weapon without any reason of being there," said Ellen Spiro, from the Radio-Television-Film Department.

From advertising to Slavic and Eurasian studies, more than 130 faculty members say they don't want guns in their classrooms.

Earlier this year, campus carry squeaked by a midnight deadline by allowing schools to make their own rules as to where guns can go.

The bill's House sponsor, Rep. Allen Fletcher, R-Cypress, responded to KXAN by phone saying, "They can have their petition. I have mine. It's the Texas Legislature." He went on to say that the law is the law. He reminds Gun-Free UT that the reason why "campus carry" passed was because it gave university leaders the leeway to implement the law in the safest way they deem possible.

Local Texas Senator Donna Campbell, M.D., R-San Marcos, responded in a statement.

"These petitions have the opposite effect of their intention and would actually make our classrooms less safe by preventing the most responsible, law-abiding citizens from carrying on campus for personal protection. Meanwhile, criminals who ignore the law will carry weapons wherever they choose. I am confident that the governing boards of our universities will adopt rules for their campuses that abide by the law the Legislature passed and reflect the will of the people to exercise their second amendment rights," said Campbell, who voted for "campus carry."

But Gun-Free UT is undeterred. They already have shirts printed and a change.org petition with almost 500 signatures in one day. They plan to be very vocal during the rule making process. Gun-Free UT plans a rally outside of the Blanton Museum on September 30th.

UT Austin is taking input on the roll-out of campus carry at two upcoming forums. One on September 30th, The other on October 5th. The law goes into effect August 1st of next year.

Most universities in the state are planning to get feedback before finalizing their on-campus gun policy.

Texas A&M University's President has already formed a committee to get thoughts from students, faculty and staff on how to implement the rules. This will include whether to create gun-free zones.

The Texas Tech University System Chancellor says several leaders are already looking into gun-free zones. They will soon get students, faculty and staff involved.

Texas Christian University or T-C-U is a private university so it can opt-out of the campus carry law. But it's actually holding a forum this week to collect feedback.

St. Edward's University has already decided to opt out of the new law and remain a gun-free campus. It's a private university.