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The Main Point: DAUNTING DECISION
Apr 28 2009 - 10:13pm | By University Star Editorial Staff


The Texas Legislature is taking an intrusive solution to a delicate problem.

If passed, bills going through the House and Senate would prohibit universities from banning handguns on their campuses. The University Star editorial board opposes handguns on university campuses in general, but this is the worst solution, barring making handguns mandatory.

If nothing else, it should be up to regents and university administrations whether handguns are allowed on their campuses. This is how it works in 23 other states, and only two universities have allowed handguns on campus.


Furthermore, any guns on campus could make people feel insecure in a learning environment. Students, faculty and staff deserve a sense of security on the campus. To make the university community uncomfortable and insecure on campus is unfair.


Proponents argue an “invisible line” is separates campuses from the areas’ license holders can carry firearms. However, university campuses house students who need to feel protected. Students have enough to worry about without adding concealed weapons to the mix.


According to an article in the April 22 issue of The University Star, last week’s empty holster protest, in which supporters of concealed carry sported empty gun holsters, “symbolizes how (students, faculty and staff) are left unarmed and defenseless on campus.”


The protestors might feel defenseless, but it is hard to imagine how guns would better protect them. In the event of a Virginia Tech style shooting, even a veteran weapons handler would have a hard time collecting his or her wits to fire back. In warfare, a small group of soldiers can take out a large one in an ambush, and those are professionals. It is doubtful a student, even one with shooting experience, would be able to stop a killer. The best thing to do would be what the University Police recommend: run.


Michael Guzman, president of Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, has said guns would also help protect from assaults and more regular crimes. These are real threats, but there are better, more practical ways to defend oneself. No one is a functioning human being after getting hit with pepper spray or electrocuted with a taser.


Faculty senators openly spoke against the bill, as did Texas State and University of Texas students when they walked out of class to protest at the Capitol. The bill is expected to pass, but that does not mean those who want a secure university have to take it lying down. The more the Legislature knows about how people feel about this issue the better.


English author Edward Bulwer-Lytton said, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” Do guns trump the two?