Opinions vary on the University of Texas at Arlington campus about the topic of Campus Carry — the law that will allow licensed people to carry concealed handguns onto public college campuses beginning in the fall of 2016.
For Tiffany Jones, a junior majoring in social work, the primary concern is safety.
"I’d rather not see a gun on campus," she said.
Junior Kameron Raburn, majoring in civil engineering, has a concealed handgun license. He told NBC 5 he thinks it is “necessary” to allow people the same freedoms they have elsewhere in the college setting.
“If you go anywhere, really, people have handguns everywhere," he said.
According to Raburn, preventing bills like Campus Carry will lead to a situation where only those who intend to break the law will be armed.
“You are preventing them from being able to protect themselves," he said.
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Several college administrators spoke out against the proposed law during the legislative session in the spring, including William McRaven, chancellor of the University of Texas system. Following passage of the law, however, McRaven turned his attention toward proper implementation of the law on his campuses.
“It is helpful that the bill was amended to allow our campus presidents to consult with students, faculty and staff to develop rules and regulations that will govern the carrying of concealed handguns on campuses,” he said in a statement. “I pledge to our students, faculty, staff, patients and their families and to all those who may visit a UT institution that, as UT System leaders, we will do everything in our power to maintain safe and secure campuses.”
