Texas Senate votes to make college campuses less safe

Senate Bill 1164, which was opposed by university administrators, university faculties, university staff members, university students and public safety officers from across the state, but supported by the only group that matters to Texas lawmakers, the National Rifle Association, sailed through the Senate today. It would allow guns in public buildings on university campuses in Texas -- and I mean all buildings, despite attempts by some clear-thinking senators to exclude some obvious ones, such as:

• The University of Houston maintains a charter elementary school for children of faculty members and others who live near the area. Guns will be allowed in this elementary school.
• But Texans want their kiddos exposed to guns younger than elementary school. That's why the Senate refused to exempt pre-schools located on college campuses.
• Ever been the to Cactus Cafe on the UT-Austin campus? Great place. At least it used to be. This bill supersedes existing laws prohibiting guns in bars. Alcohol + guns = trouble. Always has. Always will.
• We don't allow guns in stand-alone hospitals in Texas, but with this Senate bill you'll be able to tote your concealed handgun inside the Health Services center on the UT campus.
• On-campus mental health centers will allow people to carry concealed handguns inside. That really ought to help those with suicidal tendencies being treated there.
• The chemistry labs at the University of Texas at Dallas prohibit food, drinks, cigarettes, short sleeves, shorts and sandals because of the dangers of the chemicals being used. However, they won't be able to prohibit guns. Does that make sense?

The Senate made sure that this bill had nothing to do with on-campus safety. After all, statistics show that 93 percent of violent crimes committed against students occur off-campus anyway. But one senator introduced an amendment that would have allowed the Texas Coordinating Board to change the law if it was realized that safety on campuses was getting worse. Seems reasonable: If we learn that guns make campuses less safe, then let's rescind the law allowing them. That amendment was defeated, proving once and for all this legislation is not about safety on campus but in caving into the wishes of the NRA.

I challenge anyone to approach any college professor and ask him or her if he or she will feel safer under this law. How will that professor feel when a student approaches asking for a grade change or permission to turn in an assignment late, knowing that student just might be carrying a concealed handgun?