Pencils? Check. Paper? Check. Loaded handgun?
Politicians and student activists across the state have pushed for legislation that would allow students, faculty and staff to carry concealed handguns on university campuses.
The Texas Concealed Handgun Law prohibits civilians who have a concealed handgun license from carrying a weapon onto UT property, according to the UT Police Department's Web site.
The fatal shooting of 33 Virginia Tech students earlier this year convinced some that students should be allowed to carry weapons on campus for protection in case a similar incident were to reoccur.
But some students, like sociology junior Adrian Hernandez, said that a loose Virginia gun law is what allowed Seung-Hui Cho, the Virginia Tech shooter, to purchase the guns he used.
"That student had been diagnosed with mental illnesses before he bought the gun," Hernandez said. "There's no way that the person selling the gun knew that. There's no way he should have been allowed to purchase a weapon, let alone three, within the period of time that he did."
Texas is one of 16 states that does not allow concealed handguns to be carried on a university campus.
Allison Castle, a spokeswoman for Gov. Rick Perry, said the governor would support legislation allowing those with a license to carry a gun on campus.
"Anyone who has gone through the process of getting a license and has had a thorough background check should be allowed to carry a gun anywhere," Castle said. "In terms of legislation, a lawmaker would have to initiate that. But the governor has left no doubt where he stands on the issue."
From Sept. 1, 2006 to Aug. 31, 2007, 16,636 women and 74,231 men in Texas were issued a handgun license, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety's Web site. During the same time period, 27 females and 365 males were denied a license, according to the site.
In order to qualify for a license, an applicant must be over 21 years of age, although former and current members of the armed forces may be 18, have a clean criminal history, not be chemically dependent or of "unsound mind" and have all fines and fees paid completely, according to the Texas Concealed Handgun Association's Web site.
If handguns are allowed on campuses, Hernandez said, laws should be enforced more strictly.
Michael Guzman, southwest director of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus and a Texas State University economics junior, said many red flags were bypassed when Cho purchased the gun, especially with the National Instant Criminal Background Check System used before someone purchases a gun.
"This is a matter of enforcing laws that already exist," Guzman said.
Guzman said he wanted to stress that his group is not advocating concealed weapons on campus out of fear of a shooter.
"Things happen every single day on campuses like rapes and aggravated assaults," he said. "What we want to stress is it's everyone's right to self-defense."
Under the protection of the Second Amendment, there is "no question" that a concealed handgun can be carried around a college campus, UT law professor Lucas Powe said. Banning them is "strictly a policy issue," he said.
But on a personal level, Powe said, his opinion changes.
"I would prefer students didn't carry one," he said. "I can't imagine that there are many professors who would like students walking around on campus packing heat."
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