Texas campus carry law starts today

Community colleges had extra year to prepare; local presidents say they’re ready

‘The big thing is as long as people follow the law, today will be no different from yesterday.’ —James Henry Russell, Texarkana College president

Today is the first day concealed handgun carriers can bring their weapon on community college campuses in Texas.

Texarkana College and Northeast Texas Community College have been preparing for this day for more than a year, since Senate Bill 11 allowing conceal carry went into effect Aug. 1, 2016, for four-year colleges.

Now that it’s here, campus presidents say they’ve got things in place to address any potential issues.

“The big thing is as long as people follow the law, today will be no different from yesterday,” TC President James Henry Russell said. “As long as a conceal carry weapon holder is following the law, you won’t know they’re carrying it.”

Those who choose to carry a concealed weapon are required to be at least 18 or a veteran and hold a current concealed carry license. The law also states the weapon must be concealed on or about their person.

“For example, at the Pinkerton Recreation Center, if a student goes to work out or swim, they cannot leave their firearm in their bag,” Russell said. “They must leave it in their car or they must have it concealed on or about their body. They cannot put it in their locker.”

TC has also provided safes in on-campus apartments for students to store their weapons and each has a lock installed that’s unique to the owner.

TC’s board of trustees approved their local policy concerning concealed carry on July 14 after TC Police Chief Stephen Gass and Human Resources Director Phyllis Deese met with students, staff and faculty for their input. The policy states that concealed weapons may not be carried on certain areas of the campus, including the Testing Center. Other restricted sites include any location where a high school, collegiate or professional sporting event is taking place unless the license holder is a participant in the event and a handgun is used in said event. They also are barred from any location designated as a polling place of a federal, state or local election, including while early voting is in progress, or in a room where a properly posted open meeting is being held and where district-controlled property is used by a court unless the handgun is carried pursuant to written regulation or authorization of the court.

License holders are also restricted from carrying weapons in health care facilities used for counseling and mental health services. Nor are they allowed to carry at designated conference areas used for discussions of grievances or disciplinary hearings or meetings or areas where contractual or licensing obligations require the exclusion of weapons and handguns.

Temporary signage will be placed at temporary testing sites, the student counselor’s office and facilities used for University Interscholastic Events. Russell can also designate any areas that he deems necessary for campus safety to be given temporary signage.

He said he does not foresee problems in maintaining the policy.

“We have seen in the university environment in place the last year—there has been no impact in the campuses we have seen and as I am aware, no issues.”

He encouraged anyone who sees someone carrying a weapon to call 911 and let law enforcement handle it. Section 30.06 of the penal code states that it is a Class C misdemeanor for a concealed handgun permit holder to show the weapon and is punishable by a fine not to exceed $200. It becomes a Class A misdemeanor if a police officer asks them to leave the premises and they refuse.

TC’s Concealed Carry policy is available at texarkanacollege.edu/public-safety/concealed-carry/.

At NTCC, the board of trustees approved its first campus carry policy in May. It also states that concealed carry licensees carry the weapon on their person at all times or secure it in a private vehicle. The weapon must also be stored in a holster that completely covers the trigger-guard area of the gun.

The policy was developed through a NTCC internal task force, which sought feedback from both staff and students.

“Our approach to a campus carry policy is pretty straightforward and in keeping with the spirit of the law,” Dr. Brad Johnson, NTCC president, stated in a press release. “Those who are licensed to carry handguns will be able to do so anywhere on campus that is not legally prohibited or explicitly excluded.”

Those campus exclusions include sporting and interscholastic events, governmental body meetings and areas with the presence of school children where a school-sponsored activity is being conducted. Concealed carry is also not allowed in areas where laboratories and dangerous chemicals are storedor in the campus testing center. The policy also allows Johnson to designate temporary exclusion zones when activities are being conducted where there could be legal or safety concerns.

NTCC will not provide safes for students to store their guns, but students who live on-campus may store them in their residence in a self-purchased gun safe that has exterior walls of a minimum 16-gauge steel and a high-strength electronic or biometric lock. Key-lock safes are not permitted.

The NTCC Campus Carry policy can be viewed at www.ntcc.edu/security.