Texas Campus-Carry Bills Have Been Filed

I know that I am a little late on this as the bills were filed last Thursday, sorry for the delay but I just haven't been 100% lately.

Representative Joe Driver, one of my favorite Texas Rep's, filed HB1893. Senator Jeff Wentworth, another outstanding Texas representative of the people, filed SB1164.

Both bills are entitled:

AN ACT relating to the carrying of concealed handguns on the campuses of institutions of higher education.

To tell you the truth, I was a little worried about the Campus-Carry bills. Sometimes great sounding legislation can be filled with very bad content. HB 992 from the last legislative session was one such bill. Thankfully, these bills are straight forward and to the point:

SECTION 1. Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code, is amended by adding Section 411.2031 to read as follows:

Sec. 411.2031. CARRYING OF HANDGUNS BY LICENSE HOLDERS ON CERTAIN CAMPUSES.

(a) For purposes of this section, "institution of higher education" and "private or independent institution of higher education" have the meanings assigned by Section 61.003,Education Code.

(b) A license holder may carry a concealed handgun on or about the license holder ’s person while the license holder is on the campus of an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education in this state.

(c) An institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education in this state may not adopt any rule, regulation, or other provision prohibiting license holders from carrying handguns on the campus of the institution.

(d) An institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education in this state may establish rules, regulations, or other provisions concerning the storage of handguns in dormitories or other residential buildings that are owned or operated by the institution and located on the campus of the institution.

The Penal Code is also amended by this bill:

SECTION 2. Sections 46.03(a) and (c), Penal Code, are amended to read as follows:

(a) A person commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or recklessly possesses or goes with a firearm, illegal knife, club, or prohibited weapon listed in Section 46.05(a):

(1) on the physical premises of a school or educational institution, any grounds or building on which an activity sponsored by a school or educational institution is being conducted, or a passenger transportation vehicle of a school or educational institution, whether the school or educational institution is public or private, unless:

(A) pursuant to written regulations or written authorization of the institution; or

(B) the person possesses or goes on the physical premises of an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education, or on any grounds or building on which an activity sponsored by the institution is being conducted, with a concealed handgun that the person is licensed to carry under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code;

Section (a)(1)(B) is the additional language included in this bill.

HB 1893 currently has 5 authors and 31 coauthors. SB 1164 currently has 11 authors.

If your representative is sponsoring this bill, please write and thank them for their support. If your representative is not yet sponsoring this bill; call, fax and write them asking that they support this very important legislation. This is Texas, both Democrats and Republicans in this state support good firearm legislation. The Castle Doctrine passed with just about as much bi-partisan support as anyone could ask for. Heck, even if you know your rep is an anti, send them a note asking for their support.

If you rep is a Republican and is cool to the idea of supporting Campus-Carry, remind them of this section of the Texas Republican Party Platform:

...We believe the Legislature should enact legislation: allowing: Concealed Handgun License holders to carry concealed weapons on publicly owned institutions of learning; and, preventing employers from prohibiting Concealed Handgun License holders from storing their concealed handgun in their vehicle while on a company parking area, and removing civil liability from property owners who do not prevent Concealed Handgun License holders from carrying on their premises.

There is going to be a lot of effort by the antis to kill this legislation. We need to do everything we can to let Austin know that this is an issue that is very important to us and that we want to see it moved forward and passed.

Don't know who represents you, or how to contact them? Head on over here and you can easily get that information.