TX: Proposed law would allow guns on college campuses

[308Mike]

Linkarooni

Proposed law would allow guns on college campuses
By Enrique Rangel | AVALANCHE-JOURNAL

Monday, December 08, 2008
Story last updated at 12/8/2008 - 1:33 am

AUSTIN - Last June, when the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Washington, D.C., ban on handguns, some state legislators and legal experts thought the high court's ruling affirmed Americans' right to own firearms and saw no need for any gun legislation in next year's session of the Texas Legislature.

But Sen. Jeff Wentworth, author of last year's castle doctrine law - which gives Texans the right to attack an intruder if they feel threatened at their home, business or car - says Texas needs at least one more gun law, and he is planning to author it.

The San Antonio Republican is drafting a bill that, if the Legislature approves and Gov. Rick Perry signs into law, would allow Texans with concealed gun permits to carry their weapons on college campuses, where concealed weapons are now prohibited.

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[esa5444]

I love Texas. Two weeks ago, I was driving to the airport, and I saw a billboard encouraging Texans to sign the petition for open carry. I blinked in disbelief when I saw it, back in CA, such a thing would be impossible.

[Jered]

I love Texas. Two weeks ago, I was driving to the airport, and I saw a billboard encouraging Texans to sign the petition for open carry. I blinked in disbelief when I saw it, back in CA, such a thing would be impossible.

Damn. I need to get a job to [strike]escape the gulag[/strike] move to Texas.

[Termite]

We have open carry in Louisiana. However, one has to exercise discretion in doing it.

[308Mike]

I understand Texas' knife laws and laws regarding other weapons is pretty screwed up. Not the place for a blade collector. If they allow guns, why not knives too? Read my sig.

[Aglifter]

It's vestiges of Jim crow laws -- TX never had Jim Crow like the South, but that's where the knife laws came from -- that, and I suspect, in a culture where carrying guns is very common*, a "fighting" knife was viewed as something that only a questionable man would carry -- you can own most types of knives in TX, but you're limited on what you carry -- same w. batons, etc.

*Traditional TX is very different from modern, urban TX. In my hometown, the local judge always made it clear that no permit was required to carry. Also, just based on the culture where I was raised, if any force was acceptable, lethal force was acceptable -- eg, if you felt you could use a baton, you should be using a gun.

[randy]

, a "fighting" knife was viewed as something that only a questionable man would carry --

You mean disreputable scum like Jim Bowie?

(I know that's not the intent, I just found that line of reasoning humorous given his place in the Texas pantehon of heroes)

[Aglifter]

I think Jim Bowie was viewed as fairly questionable... but TX has a history of being fond of questionable characters.