Running Head: CONCEALED CARRY ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES

Issues and Regulations about Concealed Carry on College Campuses

Rafael Ornelas
University of Texas at El Paso

CONCEALED CARRY ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES

Abstract
Over the recent years, mass shootings in public areas have raised a heated dispute on the
legislation for Americans second amendment right. Recent shootings in certain locations like a
university or any type of college campus has targeted a more specific dispute. The idea that
allowing students and faculty to carry concealed firearms is not only their right according to the
second amendment, but it would help deteriorate the probability of a shooting in heavy populated
area on university grounds. Others believe that concealed carry on college campuses would
make matters worse in terms of safety. Questions that can help understand this issue are; what
are the current laws for concealed carry and their regulations on college campuses, what is
general opinion on the right to carry arms on college campuses, what are current school
procedures to stop college shootings, and how would proposed policy changes affect concealed
weapon carry. Research conducted by observing a Universities security system could help
understand present day security on college as an example. This presents what current regulations
are set on a average campus. Cameras, locked doors, emergency stations, police patrols are all
examined throughout the campus. Current issues affect the outcome of what university
regulations will be according to the states individual legislation.
Keywords: Legislation, concealed carry, firearms, amendment.

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Issues and Regulations about Concealed Carry on College Campuses

Masses shootings in public areas have raised concern towards the safety of the people.
These concerns have been turned more directly to the safety on college campuses. University
campuses have become the spotlight for the raising debates on concealed carry. These debates
regarding whether or not to allow Americans the right to bear arms has split the nation into two.
It regards citizens that believe in the right to bear arms and those who are against. Although,
recent shootings in certain locations like a university or any type of college campus has targeted
a more specific dispute. The idea that allowing students and faculty to carry concealed firearms
is not only their right according to the second amendment, but it would help deteriorate the
probability of a shooting in heavy populated area on university grounds. A specific event that
leads to these debates is, the deadliest shooting rampage in U.S. history leaving 32 dead at the
Virginia Tech campus in Blacksburg, Virginia (CNN LIBERARY, 2014). The idea of what if
lingers like a shadow across the nation causing people to ask what if concealed carry was a factor
that could prevent an incident. Or the thought of what if there were more enforced laws
restricting the carry of firearms. Current issues and regulations regarding concealed carry on
college campuses determine the future for each states legislation.
Not only are concealed carry policies changing for universities, but for general
regulations to even obtain a license in the first place. This affects who is eligible to carry a
concealed weapon and at which appropriate location. These debates are splitting the population
into two. Some people argue that it is unconstitutional to restrain an individual from carry a
concealed firearm anywhere. Others are arguing that allowing firearms in important public
places will cause an increase in crime. Ongoing events are affecting future regulations not only
for universities put other major populated public places as well. This evolution is assisting on

CONCEALED CARRY ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES

deciding who is allowed to carry a firearm and who isnt. These questions regarding concealed
carry on college campuses will help understand the perspective of opposing sides once they are
dissected. These questions have provoked debates over the best ways to ensure the safety of
students, faculty, and staff (Harnish, 2008). For that reason analyzing current and future
regulations for concealed carry on college campuses will give a better insight on the two sides
through these questions:
1. What are the current laws for concealed carry and their regulations on college
campuses?
2. What is general opinion on the right to carry arms on college campuses?
3. What are current school procedures to stop college shootings?
4. How would proposed policy changes affect concealed weapon carry?
What are the current laws for concealed carry and their regulations on college campuses?
Current laws for concealed carry and their regulations on college campuses differ for the
reason that states have the right to enforce their own laws guided by the constitution and federal
law. Concealed carry laws are influenced by past tragedies that have caused citizens to take
action and focus on laws within university grounds. This causes an outbreak of radicals for
concealed carry or against the freedom of concealed carry. In the article Gun Control on
College and University Campuses in the Wake of District of Columbia V. Heller and McDonald
V. City of Chicago by Lewis M. Wasserman (2011), Wasserman (2011) explains The
Concealed Carry Act (CCA) was placed to continue the states practice of state control over
concealed handguns and to ensure consistent rules throughout the state. Depending on the states
standing on concealed carry, it affects the laws to be placed for universities within the states
boundaries. States are in one of five possible legislations regarding concealed carry on college

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campuses. In the website Armed Campuses (2013), explains the current standings of each state
regarding concealed carry. Armed Campuses (2013) explains that in some states laws allow
concealed guns, when in others law allows them but the schools limit locations and who carries.
Other states completely prohibit concealed carry by law when other states decide the weapon
policies or concealed guns are allowed in locked cars in parking lots (Armed Campuses, 2013).
The states current legislation on concealed carry can be seen on the map below. In Figure 1, red
colored states allow concealed carry by law. In grey states law allows concealed guns but schools
limit locations and who carries. In green states, guns are completely prohibited by law on
campuses. Yellow states decided the weapons policy. And the orange states only allow guns in
locked cars in parking lots.
Figure 1:

What is general opinion on the right to carry arms on college campuses?

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As time has progressed, citizens have made up their mind on concealed carry by viewing
it as trial and error. All states have taken different directions in according to its legislation for
concealed carry on college campuses. This debate regards students attending college, parents,
faculty, and the surrounding area of the college location. People are either for the right to carry a
concealed weapon on campus or they believe campuses should not allow the right to carry a
concealed firearm. In the article Guns on Campus by Tim Goral (2012), uses an John Reece as
an example, an assistant professor of criminal justice at Colorado Mesa University, says, Bad
guys people who have bad intentions with weapons are going to get hold of them anyway. If
we have gun control and limits on concealed hand gun permits, then law-abiding citizens will be
defenseless (Goral, 2012). Reece believes that regardless of all the restrictions placed on
concealed carry, bad people will still commit the crime (Goral 2012). Reece ask, Does gun
control deter further incidents of gun related offenses? If you look at the numbers, youll see that
those assumptions are the opposite and wrong (Goral, 2012). Goral (2012) also uses David
Burnett, a spokesmen of the Students for Concealed Carry, as an example that says, College
Campuses are one of the few exceptions where firearms are not allowed to be carried for selfdefense and, to us as students and existing permit holders who carry everywhere else in the state
were we live, this is an unjust double standard.
Goral (2012) talks about Andrew Pelosi, a spokesman for the campaign to keep guns off
of campus believes that concealed gun carriers might make situations like Virginia Tech worse
(Goral, 2012). The International Association of Campus Law Enforcement Administrators
(IACLEA) has stated that There is...a real concern that campus police officers responding to a
situation involving an active shooter may not be able to distinguish between the shooter and
others with firearms at colleges that allow guns on their premises (Armed Campuses, 2013).

CONCEALED CARRY ON COLLEGE CAMPUSES

These two sides continue to argue for the states legislation regarding universities on concealed
carry.
What are current school procedures to stop college shootings?
Schools across the nation have developed a plan or strategy to prevent shootings from
happening on college grounds. The University of Texas at El Paso has a variety of systems to
help prevent college students. Observations conducted to examine these systems help understand
the effects the issues and regulations have impacted on college campuses. The university is open
almost twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. People are constantly walking in and out of
campus buildings. No forms of identification are required to enter any of the campus buildings.
Cameras are instead in most classes, but it is uncertain if they are active. Cameras are not placed
outside of building. Security personal is rarely seen inside of campus buildings at doors or in
common areas. Blue Emergency post about seven feet high with a blue flashing light are often
seen across campus. This allows for anyone to report an emergency by pressing a button on the
post. University patrol cars are seen driving the perimeter of the campus. And university patrol
bikes are seen in inner campus more often than patrol cars. According to the UTEP police
departments Response plan guide, university police department (2011-2012) explains that an
individual must use his/her own discretion during an active shooter event as to whether you
choose to run to safety or remain in place.
Drastic measures are being used to ensure the safety of students and faculty while on
campus. Mass shootings have also gone as far as changing legislation regarding if concealed
carry is to be permitted on a college campus or not. According to Brett A. Sokolow, the higher
attorney president for the Nation Center for Higher Education Risk Management, Sokolow
(2014) discusses a variety of measures being taken to stop college shootings. Sokolow (2014)

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explains that locking doors to the classroom is a basic idea to stop mass shootings. Sokolow
(2014) says, any time spent by a shooter trying to find unlocked rooms or shooting at locks is
less time he will be able to spend shooting people. Sokolow (2014) also argues that cameras are
being widely used as a security measure to prevent school shootings. Sokolow (2014) argues,
the money invested in cameras will make us feel safe, but it will do little to make us safe.
These new ideas for prevent shootings on college campuses are in the process of trail and error.
How would proposed policy changes affect concealed weapon carry?
Regulations for carrying a concealed handgun are varying throughout the states. In states
that do allow concealed carry, carrying a weapon on campus would have the same requirements
to obtaining a permit. According to Texas legislation, a person must be legal resident of this
state for the six-month period, at least twenty-one years of age, not been convicted with a felony,
is not charged with the commission of a Class A or Class B misdemeanor or equivalent offense,
is not a fugitive from justice for a felony or a Class A or Class B misdemeanor or equivalent
offense, is not a chemically dependent person, is not incapable of exercising sound judgment
with respect to the proper use and storage of a handgun (Department of public safety in the state
of Texas, 2014).
Conclusion
Past incidents have raised awareness for concealed carry on college campuses. Past
shooting not only on college grounds but also in other public locations have encouraged a debate.
This debate enacts the fifty states to place a legislature on the colleges within its boundaries.
Examining the pervious questions explained how past incidents are affecting each states
legislation. The questions answered each states current law towards concealed carry, the general

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opinion for carrying concealed firearms on campus, current school procedures to stop mass
shootings, and they the regulations required to carry a firearm on campus.

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References
Armed Campuses. 2013. Guns on Campus laws for Public Colleges and Universities. Retrieved
from http://www.armedcampuses.org
CNN Library. 2014. 25 Deadliest mass shootings in U. S. History Fast Facts. Retrieved from
http://www.cnn.com/2013/09/16/us/20-deadliest-mass-shootings-in-u-s-history-fast-facts/
Department of Public safety. 2011. Concealed Handgun. Retrieved from
http://www.dps.texas.gov/RSD/CHL/faqs/index.htm
Department of public safety. 2014. Subchapter H. License to carry a concealed handgun.
Retrieved from http://www.statutes.legis.state.tx.us/Docs/GV/htm/GV.411.htm#411.172
Goral, Tim. 2012. Guns on Campus. University Business. Retrieved from
http://encore.utep.edu:50080/ebsco-w-b/ehost/pdfviewer/pdfviewer?sid=e1300d7e-03f74fc9-9f79-c925ffe7af3c%40sessionmgr113&vid=1&hid=116
Lupkin, Sydney. 2012. School Safety Expert Disagrees on Lock Down Procedures after
Newtwon shooting. Retrieved from http://abcnews.go.com/US/school-safety-expertsdisagree-lockdown-procedures-newtown-shooting/story?id=17978485
Sokolow, Brett A. 2014. Stop the Madness How Universities Should be Responding to School
Shootings. Retrieved from http://ncherm.org/pdfs/article_STOP_THE_MADNESS.pdf
University of Texas at El Paso Police Department. 2011-2012. Response Plan Guide, a multihazard approach to a safe campus. Retrieved from
https://admin.utep.edu/LinkClick.aspx?link=Emergency++Response+Guide+20112012.pdf&tabid=569&mid=116942
Wasserman, Lewis. M. 2011. Gun Control on College and University Campuses in the Wake of
District of Columbia V. Heller and McDonald V. City of Chicago. Retrieved from

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ZSZzY29wZT1zaXRl#db=a9h&AN=73913847