Guns on Campus

Despite shoe leather and faculty testimony expressing safety concerns, the Senate Criminal Justice Committee yesterday passed HB 972, the bill permitting holders of concealed handgun permits to carry weapons into college campus buildings. Committee Chairman Whitmire, who voted no on the bill, explained that he believed this version, which allows local option opt-out, to be better than an alternative he would expect to be filed in a special session. He continued that he doesn’t believe the issue has the necessary two-thirds votes in the Senate to be considered.