Texas State Campus Carry Task Force to Review Gun Free Zones

Matthew Hamill
Assistant News Director

In late May, both houses of  the Texas Legislature approved Campus open carry and sent the bill to the Governor Abbott’s office. Although many major universities opposed the bill, gun lobbyists made this bill a top priority.

The law doesn’t go into effect until August 1st 2016, and Texas State President Denise Trauth is already beginning to prepare the University

“What I have done is appoint a 25 person task force with is broadly representative of faculty, of staff, of students, and Doctor Vicki Brittain who is a special assistant to the president is chairing that task force.”

Opponents of the Campus carry legislation received some consolation, through a clause in the legislation that allows the President of a University to create gun-free zones.

The special task force will aid President Trauth in determining where these gun free zones should be located. Trauth said the committee began their work when the fall semester began.

“They are reviewing the legislation, they are consulting, they are studying data, and by the end of the semester they’re going to come up with some preliminary recommendations on everything from what the signs should to where we might have some exceptions and not allow guns.”

Trauth said, upon receiving those preliminary recommendations, the University will then open the conversation to the student body.

“Then in the first part of Spring Semester, they will take those recommendations and hold a lot of open forums at the University. So that anybody who’s got anything to say can come and say what they want to say. Then in March I will take our recommendations to the board of regents.”

Once the Texas State board of regents have their say, the regulations and law will go into effect on August first of next year.

President Trauth said students can also take a survey to relay their opinion about campus carry, that survey can be found on the Texas State website.