Texas Tech announcing  the new policies for the Senate Bill 11, Campus Carry law, that will take effect August 1st. The presidents of Texas Tech University, The Health Sciences Center in Lubbock and El Paso, as well as Angelo State all met to discuss the new policies.

The new bill will allow concealed carry of hand guns on public university campuses all across Texas starting this fall.

“And I think everybody understands that this is an evolutionary thing. We’ll implement these policies  and see how things go,” said TTU interim President John Opperman.

The law required Tech’s Board of Regents to review the new policies, but it’s up to the President of each University to approve or implement these policies.

“Faculty still needs to debate this issue, and everyone knows where they stand on this issue,” said Opperman. “At some point in time we need to move on and implement the law.”

For example, professors must adhere to the Campus Carry law and can not deny a licensed holder from entering an office or room.

“A lot of my professors have complained about it and don’t feel really safe with the idea knowing that some students will be carrying guns in the classrooms,” said Texas Tech student Rachel Veal.

However, places where alcoholic beverages are served and religious areas such as chapels will have restrictions for gun holders. Including many areas over at the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center where there is a hospital.

“It’s up to the concealed carry holder to understand areas that are exempt like a hospital,” said Ted Mitchell, President of the Texas Tech Health Sciences Center. “So if they are responsible if they are on an area where they can carry they have to know they’re responsible to securing a weapon before they move over to an exempt area like UMC.”

Also with this new law that means dorms will be affected. The board discussing that in certain dorms students with suite styled rooms will be allowed to carry guns, but in the traditional halls students will not be able to carry.

“Getting used to the fact is going to be pretty hard because just being outside of campus and seeing someone with a gun kinda makes me a little nervous,” said Texas Tech student Erin Mitchell.

Open carry of handguns is allowed in Texas, but that will continue to be prohibited on campus.
 
In May the proposed policies will be debated and reviewed by students and staff, a training is said will take place over the summer, and campus carry and all its rules will be in effect starting the fall semester.

“I think there was a lot of discussion about it early on because of the uncertainties around it, but I think everybody understands it’s the law,” said Opperman. “I think most of the feedback we have gotten has been positive in terms of how each of the campuses have been responding to this in the best way that we can.”