Guns on Campus Could Cost Colleges
Allowing students to bring guns to college could cost universities a pretty penny in insurance premiums — one of the hitches that is keeping the campus-carry bill stalled in the Texas Senate.
Though university officials say safety is their primary concern with state Sen. Jeff Wentworth's bill that would allow guns on campus, the potential insurance price tag comes at a time when lawmakers are already mulling serious budget cuts in higher education.
The Houston Community College Board of Trustees passed a resolution this month strongly urging lawmakers to vote against allowing concealed handguns on campus. Along with safety concerns ...
Comments (11)
Rick Chafey via Texas Tribune on Facebook
It's not just "students" whose constitutional rights are being violated.
Adam Silva via Texas Tribune on Facebook
An unfunded mandate at a time when colleges are already cash-strapped.
Rick Chafey via Texas Tribune on Facebook
If the good guys have the bad guys outgunned, you don't need police officers. Eliminate the campus PDs and see a net savings.
Rick Chafey via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The local sheriff is the only proper law-enforcement authority, since s/he is elected by the people s/he protects.
Gary Skaggs via Texas Tribune on Facebook
NO,NO,NO! Guns are supposed to protect us from everything! Lunatics, Liberals, Insurance Rates, and Cough due to cold!
Michael JJ Messer via Texas Tribune on Facebook
The worst part about the proposed campus carry law is that they have yet to add an amendment allowing the schools to opt out if their students vote to. College is supposed to be a haven in which ideas from all walks of life can come together and be debated in a safe environment. When you introduce a gun, the debate ends.
Amanda Dillon via Texas Tribune on Facebook
@ Rick Chafey-- Campus PDs will have to expand as a result of this bill. How else are campuses going to verify that those students carrying actually have a license? 2 ROTC practice rifles cause a huge scare on UT's campus a few weeks back. If this bill passes and colleges can't opt out, campus PDs across the state will be answering calls about guns on campus and verifying licenses-- as if they didn't have enough to do.
Some Othername
Really hilarious what lies some make up.
1) Guns ARE already allowed ON CAMPUS, JUST NOT IN BUILDINGS
2) The bills provide like SOVEREIGN IMMUNITY for campuses , which they currently DO NOT HAVE even though guns are already allowed on campus.
SINCE guns are already on campus and since they'd have a new IMMUNITY from liability, the risk of suits decreases as would insurance premiums.
Insurance is a risk-based business.
Less risk = less premium.
Guns are already on campus, stored in cars for burglars to get, no increased risk, actually, decreased risk.
Immunity from lawsuits = less risk
Ok .... next lie?
Some Othername
What part of this did they not read?
(a) A court may not hold the state, an agency or subdivision
of the state, an officer or employee of the state, an institution of
higher education, an officer or employee of an institution of
higher education, a private or independent institution of higher
education that has not adopted rules under Section 411.2031(e), an
officer or employee of a private or independent institution of
higher education that has not adopted rules under Section
411.2031(e), a peace officer, or a qualified handgun instructor
liable for damages .....
(b) A cause of action in damages may not be brought against
the state, an agency or subdivision of the state, an officer or
employee of the state, an institution of higher education, an
officer or employee of an institution of higher education, a
private or independent institution of higher education that has not
adopted rules under Section 411.2031(e), an officer or employee of
a private or independent institution of higher education that has
not adopted rules under Section 411.2031(e), a peace officer, or a
qualified handgun instructor for any damage caused by the actions
of an applicant or license holder under this subchapter.
Sooo , if the school can't be held liable for damages, that's ZERO RISK as opposed to currently they CAN be sued if someone steals a gun from my car and uses it ... so Insurance will decrease if this bill is passed
jj
Did insurance rates rise in Utah and Colorado? They have schools with campus carry.
Some Othername
Virginia Tech is appealing fins this week, they've paid multi-millions and will pay multi-millions more.
It was legal for a licensee to be armed, but school policy forbade self-protection. It's still costing them.
Texas campus carry bills give immunity to campuses for allowing self-protection, the legal risk is zero, the insurance rates will drop since the litigation cost risk is zero.
Texas is in a minority of States where it's illegal.
I don't know if in the 27 States where campus carry isn't "illegal" if there is immunity or not, but no one complained about higher rates in States where it's both legal and school policy to allow licensees to protect themselves.
This "higher cost" scare tactic is an outright lie easily disproved by understanding that Insurance rates are based upon risk, no lawsuits = no risk to an insurer.