Lone Star College forum explores the new campus carry law

Lone Star College Kingwood hosted the first of what is expected to be several forums this year that will focus on the new campus carry law.

Nearly 100 students, faculty and guests attended the first forum at LSC-Kingwood on April 28, hosted by the Student Government Association.

“A topic like this needs to be discussed,” said Jennifer Chiotti, associate professor of criminal justice at LSC-Kingwood. “That’s why these forums are so important … not just to raise awareness on our campus, but within our community.”

LSC Police Chief Paul Willingham addressed the campus carry issue, to dispel rumors and outline what the change in the law means for students and faculty.

“If you follow the news …you’ve heard that these four-year schools are doing these forums, and trying to figure out how to develop a campus carry policy that’s within the confines of the statute,” he said. “Lone Star College will be doing the same thing.”

In March 2015, LSC hosted campus carry forums at the LSC-Kingwood campus, and the LSC-CyFair campus, with both events drawing in excess of 300 students and faculty.

Both events were offered as a way to help students and faculty engage in discussion about the campus carry as the state Legislature was engaged in the passage of the campus carry bill, known as Senate Bill 11, which ultimately was signed into law in June 2015.

The campus carry law, which goes into effect at four-year universities on Aug. 1, 2016, will allow students and faculty, who are at least 21-years old, and who possess a concealed handgun permit, to carry their concealed handgun into some campus buildings. Currently, anyone with a concealed handgun permit can carry their weapon concealed on campus, but can’t take them into any campus building or classroom.

Weapons can be kept in vehicles even without a permit, if the owner is 21 years old and older and not a convicted felon, Willingham added.

Junior colleges and two -year colleges like the LSCS, will not see this change until Aug. 1, 2017.

“We are a year behind so we have a little bit of an advantage to see how some of these policies are applied, and how they work in the four-year schools,” Willingham said. “Honestly, in order to get our policy up and going, and have the opportunity to teach the community about the policy, we need to have ours ready to rock and roll by the spring, so we won’t have a lot of time to watch the (universities).”

Some of the anticipated prohibitions will include excluding concealed fire arms in laboratory classroom facilities, science labs, gymnasiums, or in areas that are exclusive to minors, such as campus day care center and segments of the campus that cater specifically to high school-aged students.

Areas like these would be deemed as safe zones in the new policy and would be identified with signage, Willingham said.

By the same token, colleges cannot single out or maintain a database of conceal handgun permit holders.

The licensee, however, has an obligation to ensure the weapon is safely secured and concealed when it is being carried.

That means if the weapon is noticeable beneath the clothing — known as printing — law enforcement will likely be called.

Willingham said students are unlikely to notice any changes at all once the policy changes, but students and faculty still expressed their alarm.

Jordan Everett, 21, who is studying business at LSC-Kingwood, said, “Guns really do scare me, because all I’ve heard is negative in the media.

“I’m not prepared for anything. I feel a little bit more informed on the subject now, but it still worries me … There is still so much more to be discussed,” she said.

Many of the future discussions will be organized through the Student Government Associations.

Charles Wright, president of the LSC-Kingwood Student Government Association, said he plans to meet with counterparts at other campuses this summer to plan forums.

“A majority of the students — the ones that I’ve spoken with — disagree with this law,” Wright said. “When people think about it, it really doesn’t make sense.”