UH Faculty Senate reaches resolution in opposition to campus carry

The University of Houston’s Faculty Senate reached a resolution in opposition to campus carry.

Senate Bill 11 was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott June 2015 and is expected to enact in all four year public universities beginning Aug. 2016.

The law gives public universities the privilege to regulate where concealed handguns may be prohibited, while not infringing upon an individual’s right to own and have a licensed concealed handgun. However, UH Faculty Senate deem “weapons designed to end human life have no place in the academic life of the University, except when carried by dully-authorized law officers.”

Their resolution hits many points of objection including physical and financial standpoints.

“The Texas State Legislature through Senate Bill 11 in 2015 has mandated that concealed handguns on University campuses to be carried by persons who may have only a minimal level of training.” UH faculty said. “The Texas State Legislature made no financial provisions for the implementation of Senate Bill 11.”

The faculty constantly noted the students’ and professors’ safety as a priority and believed the inclusion of weapons on campus through campus carry will disturb the University’s educational motives.

“The Faculty of the University of Houston asserts that it cannot carry out its core mission of excellence in education, research and public service where guns are present in educational spaces.” UH faculty said.

The faculty urge the Regents and Chancellor to petition the Texas State Legislature “to restore the protected academic space envisioned by the founders of the United States of America.”

The resolution was signed by UH Faculty Senate’s President Wynne Chin and will be presented to President and Chancellor Renu Khator.

Khator has yet to make a decision about campus carry as data and opinions by the UH community is being collected.

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