Cigarroa: "Less Safe" Environment With Campus Carry
As lawmakers prepare to discuss allowing concealed handguns in college and university buildings on Thursday, the chancellor of the state's largest university system continues to express his concerns with such proposals.
University of Texas System Chancellor Francisco Cigarroa sent a letter Tuesday to Gov. Rick Perry reiterating the concerns he expressed in the previous legislative session when the issue came up.
Like in 2011, Cigarroa said he respects the Legislature's authority to make the ultimate decision, but noted that he had heard objections to campus carry from a wide range of constituents, including "parents, students, faculty, staff, administrators ...
Comments (27)
Mike Openshaw via Texas Tribune on Facebook
He opposes the right of a woman to choose- her method of defense from rape. Being studies indicate between one in four to one in five co-eds suffer some for of sexual assault in their college years, how can he advocate continuing to limit their choices for defense?
Wesley Lloyd via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Can he guarantee my daughter won't face a situation on the UT campus in which she would need a gun to defend herself? Does he not realize people already carry on campus?
David Sorrells via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I've taught at the college level for over 20 years, and I have read student journals every semester of that time period. While I have no doubt that some students would be responsible carriers of weapons, I am very apprehensive about letting most students carry weapons. Students confess unspoken horrors in their journals, and those horrors would be multiplied by their carrying weapons.
Matthew Cowan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The number of students that would be carrying would be low considering you must be 21 years old to have a permit.
Rick Scott McGuckin via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Yeah, lets give people at a very irresponsible age handguns to carry around, what could go wrong?
Pun Nio via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Do I want my kid sitting in a lecture of hundreds of kids knowing that they are carrying concealed weapons? NO.
Aldo Merino via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Mike: That doesn't make a lot of sense. Not all sexual assault is rape, not all rape leads to pregnancy, let alone abortion, and, abortion is, in any case, legal, no matter whether Gov. Perry opposes it or not.
There are other forms of defense, and better ways to prevent and minimize sexual assault rather than arming a section of the population that is most likely to misuse guns in the first place.
David: No, he can't, not anymore than you can guarantee that allowing concealed weapons on campus won't lead to higher rates of aggravated, sexual assault.
Greg Pulte via Texas Tribune on Facebook
College kids are too screwy to be responsible gun handlers. Would you want high school students carrying handguns? Of course not, college kids a re little different and very stressed out people. There is rampant alcohol and drug abuse on college campuses, adding guns to the mix is incendiary.
Jo Anne Christian
I support fully the Chancellor's letter to Governor Perry, and the poignant testimony delivered by a survivor of the Whitman tower shooting.
I hope this ill-advised policy will be tabled without further consideration.
Matthew Cowan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Greg, that is not true and quite an exaggeration. The law allows for those who are 21 and older to get a CHL. That is the current law.
Garry Broussard
The only persons that will be less safe are those that would come to the campus to cause harm to those that are unarmed. The criminal that would come to the campus to cause harm, will not, and has not, been deterred by any of the "Gun Free Zones" that you guys are supporting.
At least give the law abiding citizens and students the means to defend themselves instead of making them sitting ducks.
Neil Moyer via Texas Tribune on Facebook
guns and colleges don't mix well...
Kathi Thomas via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Mr. Cigarro is right. We don't need concealed guns on campus. For folks who say they believe in "local government", they surely don't DO local government in their legislation.:(
Johnny Hughes via Texas Tribune on Facebook
There will be a mass exodus of Yankee faculty which is both bad and good. I taught for twenty years at Texas Tech. Arm one student in my class of 430 and you destroy my ability to keep order. Arm two, I"d quit.
Matthew Cowan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Kathi, universities are governed by the state and not local government
Marsha Lebkowsky via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Whitman had a concealed gun way back in the 60s at UT. He killed 17 then. With an assault weapon-the tower's open again-he would get maybe what, 500? 600?
richard jung
If these limp wristed lib dems from the Northern States want to leave because of this; Don't let the door hit them in the ass.
Joe Estep via Texas Tribune on Facebook
If you have the permit. Sounds like a good idea.
Darrell J. Gonzales via Texas Tribune on Facebook
I agree with the Chancellor on this issue! I just hope the rest of the Colleges and Universities across the State and Nation follow suit! There is no need for Guns or firearms on colleges and Universities Period! Only real Law enforcement personnel!
Matthew Cowan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
You mean the rent a cops Darrell? Perhaps you have not noticed but the police arrive on the scene after the crime has happened! Translation, too Late!! Also have you noticed that some of the worst crimes happen in a what......"Gun Free Zone"!!
Belinda Tupper via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Yeah, we all know that a threatre packed with kids and young adults slinging guns could've easily taken out a single shooter who was armed to the hilt.
Matthew Cowan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Yes Belinda, they could. In fact it would prevent more victims by the guy who is "armed to the hilt".
Belinda Tupper via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Nah. Your opinion means nothing when there are no facts.
Matthew Cowan via Texas Tribune on Facebook
So what facts did you present on your supposition? Oh that's right none. Thus your opinion means nothing.
I guess you have never fired a pistol in a timed manner. Take the Colorado shooter. If someone returned fire then the shooter now has something to worry about. It will make him hesitate and lose focus. that then gives time for people to evacuate and an opportunity for someone to take him done and end the crime.
Mike Openshaw via Texas Tribune on Facebook
Love the thing about 'unresponsible age'. Seen the age of the average marine grunt carrying an AUTOMATIC WEAPON in the field of battle?
Johnnie, enjoy your return trip to wherever.
Whitman had a hunting rifle with a 3-round magazine. He killed so many because NO ONE ELSE WAS ARMED! The cops had to borrow weapons from sporting goods stores.
Robert Palmer via Texas Tribune on Facebook
This is the nanny state thinking that gets kids killed. Keep Austin weird and this is what you get. Charles Perry is running for the hills.
Eddie Allen via Texas Tribune on Facebook
guns and college students - what could go wrong?