Texas Association of College and University Police Administrators
Position Regarding Proposed Texas Legislation
Senate Bill 1164 and House Bill 189
Entitled
An Act
Relating to the carrying of concealed handguns on the campuses of
Institutions of higher education

          The proposed legislation to stop institutions of higher education from establishing policies that would prohibit individuals with  
                          Concealed Handgun Licenses from carrying their weapons on campus did not pass in this legislative session.                    

The Texas Association of College and University Police Administrators (TACUPA) is an organization whose membership is charged with the maintenance of safe environments for learning, living, personal growth, and conducting research on campuses of institutions of higher education within the State of Texas.  As such, we are greatly concerned with the proposed introduction of additional firearms to the campuses of these institutions within the State.

 While we respect that the intent of the proposed legislation is to extend to individuals the ability to carry concealed handguns onto the campuses of institutions of higher education for the purpose of personal protection, we would like to note that with regard to crimes against persons which could potentially justify the use of deadly force, such as the use of a firearm, individuals are generally safer on the campuses of institutions of higher education in this State than they are in the communities in which the campuses are located. The majority of reported, on-campus crimes at institutions of higher education in this State have no violent component, rendering the issue of concealed carry of firearms on campus virtually meaningless in the prevention of campus crime.

 Although the proposed legislation addresses the security of handguns in residential units of campuses of institutions of higher education, it does not address other areas of concern that we have identified for the security of handguns on our campuses. There are numerous areas on campuses of institutions of higher education where individuals partially or fully disrobe which therefore pose difficulty in maintaining the ability to conceal a handgun thus increasing the potential for alarm and exacerbating potential disruption of college business. These areas include locker rooms for sports and recreation, laboratories for some forms of research, restrooms, and medical treatment facilities, to name some of the more obvious.

 Additionally, the proposed legislation does not address the presence of licensed liquor establishments on some of the campuses of institutions of higher education or hospitals that are part of an institution of higher education through either direct ownership or collaborative educational program.  The concealed handgun statutes as currently written allow these areas to be free of concealed handguns.

 It is our belief that the proposed changes to existing statutes, in its current iteration, will adversely impact the conduct of college and university business and further dilute the efforts of campus law enforcement to provide for the safety and security of the communities we have sworn to protect.