FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

(Austin, Texas) – Tomorrow morning (9am), the Texas Senate State Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on SB 11, a bill sponsored by Sen. Brian Birdwell (R), Granbury, to allow loaded, concealed handguns on college campuses.

The Campaign to Keep Guns off Campus issued the following statement in connection with SB 11 and tomorrow’s hearing before the State Affairs Committee:

“We strongly oppose Senator Birdwell’s legislation (SB 11), which would change current law and allow loaded, concealed handguns to be carried in most places on Texas’s public university and community college campuses including classrooms, libraries, and cafeterias. Currently, Texas law forbids the carrying of concealed weapons on campus grounds and buildings (excluding parking lots).

We believe allowing non-law enforcement personnel to carry loaded, concealed handguns on campus will only create an unsafe and volatile environment for all Texans.

College campuses are generally safe environments. In fact, in Texas, according to 2013 Clery Act and 2013 FBI Uniform Data Reports, on campus crime rates for the four major categories are dramatically lower than off-campus incidents. Our colleges and universities should be havens for learning, where students, faculty, staff and visitors should not need to worry about the threat of gun violence on their campuses. The campus environment should be one where additional risks are not created, such as adding loaded, concealed handguns that can be carried by students, faculty and staff.

ABOUT THE CAMPAIGN TO KEEP GUNS OFF CAMPUS

The Campaign to Keep Guns off Campus was founded in 2008 to urge colleges and universities to band together to oppose the gun lobby’s agenda to push guns onto college campuses. To date, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU) and more than 415 colleges and universities in 42 states have joined the Campaign.  Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/KeepGunsoffCampus or on Twitter at @KeepGunsoffCamp

Contact: Andy Pelosi, [email protected] (914-629-6726)

 

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