House OKs guns in college classrooms

AUSTIN — The Texas House Saturday passed a bill that would allow students with concealed handgun licenses to carry firearms in classrooms and buildings.

House Bill 972 would allow students, faculty and staff of a public college or university who are licensed to carry concealed handguns to bring them into classrooms. However, a provision in the bill would allow schools to opt-out of the mandate if they consider input from students, staff and faculty, which wasn't included in the Senate's version of the bill.

The body provided preliminary approval to the measure and it will likely move to the Senate upon third reading. Members of the Senate have recently declared the proposal dead.

Democrats attempted to block the bill with six point of orders, but each was overruled.

“The idea that this bill will increase violence is unfounded.” said the bill's author Rep. Allen Fletcher, R-Cypress. “I did not file this bill so CHL can be heroes in mass murders, but rather so they can protect themselves from” sexual assaults, robberies, burglaries and car thefts.

Read about the bills passed on “gun day” and the debate over the concealed carry measure on ExpressNews.com.

kparker@express-news.net