Texas campus carry law will take effect on 50th anniversary of Charles Whitman shooting at UT

FILE--An Aug. 2,1966 photo shows where killings took place at the Texas Univesity tower in Austin, Texas. After 23 years, the University of Texas decided Thursday Nov. 12, 1998 to reopen the school's landmark clock tower, the site of one of the nation's worst mass murders. 'X' shows where victims were slain. The Corner where Charles Whitman died is partly blocked in photo. Five victims were inside the tower on steps, apparently shot by Whitman on his way to observation walkway. (AP Photo/stf) less FILE--An Aug. 2,1966 photo shows where killings took place at the Texas Univesity tower in Austin, Texas. After 23 years, the University of Texas decided Thursday Nov. 12, 1998 to reopen the school's landmark ... more Photo: AP Photo: AP Image 1 of / 45 Caption Close Texas campus carry law will take effect on 50th anniversary of Charles Whitman shooting at UT 1 / 45 Back to Gallery

A new law that will allow license holders to carry concealed handguns in Texas university buildings and dormitories will take effect on a particularly violent anniversary.

The Alcade, the alumni magazine for the University of Texas, points out that the state's campus carry law will be implemented on Aug. 1, 2016 — the 50th anniversary of the Charles Whitman shooting at the University of Texas at Austin.

Whitman, a former U.S. Marine, fatally shot 16 people and injured 32 others during a spree conducted from the University of Texas Tower on Aug. 1, 1966.

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The new law, signed by Gov. Greg Abbott in June, has been a spot of contention at the flagship university: more than 380 professors have signed a petition disapproving of guns in classrooms.

Concerns about the presence of guns on campus has led at least one professor there to resign, KXAN reported.

According to the news station, Daniel Hamermesh, professor emeritus of economics, has submitted his resignation letter to UT President Greg Fenves, writing, "The risk that a disgruntled student might bring a gun into the classroom and start shooting at me has been substantially enhanced by the concealed carry law."

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The new law allows campus officials to designated certain areas as gun-free zones, but says the zones must be "reasonable" and cannot completely ban the carry of firearms on campus.

UT-Austin's working group tackling how to handle the new law must submit recommendations to Fenves by mid-November, who must submit his own plan to the University of Texas System by December 4.

The system's board of regents will have the option to amend the plan. Otherwise, Fenves' plan will take effect on Aug. 1, 2016.

jfechter@mySA.com

Twitter: @JFreports