I post this as an Action Alert—ARRRROOOOOOOOOGAH!—to all those conservative folks who are so alarmed at how speech is being chilled on America's college campuses. There is bad censorious mojo out there to be fought against. Gear up, people!

Students and academics have warned of a chilling effect on freedom of expression ever since Texas became the latest state to pass a "campus carry" law last year. It compels public universities to allow license holders aged 21 and over to bring concealed handguns on to most areas of campus. The faculty senate at the University of Houston prepared a slideshow for recent faculty forums warning that academics may want to "be careful discussing sensitive topics; drop certain topics from your curriculum; not 'go there' if you sense anger; limit student access off hours; go to appointment-only office hours; only meet 'that student' in controlled circumstances."

"Free will? Balderdash!"

"Really? Well, take that, you determinist trash. And that! And that!"

It'll liven up that Philosophy 101 class, I'll give you that.

(Also, the law in question is due to go into effect on the 50th anniversary of Charlie Whitman's shooting spree on the campus in Austin. I'm sorry, but Texas is just nuts. I'm surprised they didn't schedule it for November 22.)

As for the University of Houston, people with long memories still look back fondly at a guy named Benny Anders, who was a staple of the runnin'-and-gunnin' Phi Slamma Jamma Cougars of the early 1980s. (It was Anders who finished off that memorable run of dunking in the 1983 NCAA semifinal game against Louisville.) Anders became a figure of some mystery, but his career at Houston ended because of an incident in which he pulled a gun on a fellow student. He was convicted and sentenced to three years probation for "possessing a firearm on school property."

Benny Anders: Second Amendment martyr before his time.

Charles P. Pierce Charles P Pierce is the author of four books, most recently Idiot America, and has been a working journalist since 1976.

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