The Texas Senate took a final vote Saturday to approve legislation requiring the state’s public universities to allow handguns in dorms, classrooms and campus buildings. The House is scheduled to vote on the issue on Sunday.
Morgan Smith
Morgan Smith was a reporter at the Tribune from 2009 to 2018, covering politics, public education and inequality.
In 2013, she received a National Education Writers Association award for “Death of a District,” a series on school closures. After earning a bachelor’s degree in English from Wellesley College, she moved to Austin in 2008 to enter law school at the University of Texas.
A San Antonio native, her work has also appeared in Slate, where she spent a year as an editorial intern in Washington D.C.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Revised Campus Carry Bill Would Give Universities More Say
House and Senate negotiators are sending a version of “campus carry” back to their chambers that gives universities more say over where and how concealed handguns are permitted on campus.
Posted in
Politics
“Open Carry” Bill Heads to Abbott
A signature from Gov. Greg Abbott is all that remains before a bill allowing Texans to carry their handguns openly becomes law.
Posted in
Politics
“Cop-Stop” Language Stripped From Open Carry Legislation
A controversial provision, which law enforcement officials have said would allow criminals to carry firearms without repercussions, has been removed from a key gun bill, lawmakers confirmed Thursday.
Posted in
Politics
Campus Carry Headed to Conference Committee
Significant changes limiting the reach of legislation requiring Texas universities to allow concealed handguns on campus may be in danger as House and Senate lawmakers work out their differences on the bill.
Posted in
Politics
Open Carry Faces Filibuster Threat in Senate
State Sen. José Rodríguez said Thursday that if the opportunity arises, he plans to filibuster a bill allowing the open carry of handguns in Texas.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
House and Senate Will Hash Out Open Carry Differences
After outspoken opposition from the state’s law enforcement officials, the Texas House on Wednesday took a step toward removing a controversial provision from legislation allowing licensed Texans to openly carry handguns.
Posted in
Politics
Campus Carry Gets Final Approval in Texas House
The battle over “campus carry” is headed back to the Texas Senate after House lawmakers gave final approval Wednesday to legislation requiring universities in the state to allow concealed handguns on campus.
Posted in
Criminal Justice
Police Chiefs: Open Carry Provision “Handcuffs” Law Enforcement
Texas police chiefs are urging Gov. Greg Abbott to veto legislation repealing certain handgun restrictions in Texas if lawmakers do not remove a controversial provision the chiefs fear would allow criminals to carry firearms without repercussions.
Posted in
Health care
After Day of Rules Warfare, Both Sides Claim Some Wins
A daylong parliamentary battle ensued Tuesday as the Texas House faced a crucial deadline to pass many major bills before they died. Democrats succeeded in killing an abortion bill, while Republicans managed to pass ethics reform legislation and a version of campus carry.
