SAC instructor shows up to class on first day of campus carry dressed in protective gear

Geography instructor Charles K. Smith of San Antonio College wore protective gear in his class on Tuesday in response to the Campus Carry implementation in Alamo Colleges. Geography instructor Charles K. Smith of San Antonio College wore protective gear in his class on Tuesday in response to the Campus Carry implementation in Alamo Colleges. Photo: Courtesy James "Hot Mustard" Velten Photo: Courtesy James "Hot Mustard" Velten Image 1 of / 24 Caption Close SAC instructor shows up to class on first day of campus carry dressed in protective gear 1 / 24 Back to Gallery

On Tuesday, the same day campus carry was officially implemented at Texas community colleges, a geography instructor at San Antonio College came to class dressed to express exactly what he thought about the new law.

"I was just saying I don't feel safe," Charles K. Smith told mySA.com.

Smith came to class on Tuesday dressed head to waist in protective combat gear - a bulletproof vest and helmet.

Campus Carry was signed into law in 2015 and officially implemented into Texas community colleges on August 1. The state law allows individuals with a license to carry to carry a concealed handgun on college premises.

The law went into effect at 4-year institutions in 2016.

"It definitely makes me feel uneasy that there are more firearms on campus than there really should be," Smith said. "(Dressing this way) was just a statement on how I felt."

READ ALSO: Community colleges enact state's campus carry law

Smith has been with the school for 10 years and said he's encountered the occasional fist fight, argument and threat over grades. But never a gun.

"I realize students were carrying guns on campus illegally, but now it's legal to do so. It increases the chances of something happening," Smith said. "Used to, when they got mad at me, they had to go home to get the gun and had time to cool off, now they will have it with them."

Smith said he's also concerned for when an argument breaks out again and a person is armed.

"My assumption is that you will have more people carrying guns, that well lead to problems. It always has," Smith said. "There is nothing on this planet worth a human life."

One of Smith's students posted a photo of him in class Tuesday morning.

The Facebook post showing Smith behind his desk and suited up for defense has generated an flurry of controversy.

One Facebook user agreed with Smith, stating: "Can't blame him. If I were still teaching at STC I'd probably consider this, especially around grading time."

Others, took to describing the educator as "dumb," an "old fool" and a "f------ liberal."

"I'm not one bit surprised on the horrible things people have said. You have guns. The Second Amendment. It has to do with a community college. There's so many messages that haven't made it on the thread," James "Hot Mustard" Velten, who posted the photo, told mySA.com.

RELATED: Cocks Not Glocks group releases 'bulletproof' UT shirts in response to campus carry

Velten is both a student of Smith's and an employee for SAC as a radio host for KYSM. He said Smith is a good professor, passionate about his work and smart.

"Around people like that, you tend to listen a bit more," Velten said, adding no real objections from students occurred in Smith's class on Tuesday.

The instructor wants it to be known that his statement had nothing to do with the school itself, explaining, "they are following the law."

Smith said he ran his plans for Tuesday by police and administration beforehand.

"Some of them were okay and some of them weren't, but it's freedom of speech," Smith said.

jthorpe@express-news.net

@jerilynnthorpe