UT-Austin campus carry panel: Guns can't be banned in classrooms

University of Texas at Austin professors Charters Wynn, Joan Neuberger and Ellen Spiro advocate against campus carry at a protest at the flagship on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015. All three have signed a petition against guns in classrooms and are members of the anti-campus carry group "Gun Free UT." (Credit: Mari Correa) less University of Texas at Austin professors Charters Wynn, Joan Neuberger and Ellen Spiro advocate against campus carry at a protest at the flagship on Wednesday, Sept. 30, 2015. All three have signed a petition ... more Photo: Mari Correa Photo: Mari Correa Image 1 of / 14 Caption Close UT-Austin campus carry panel: Guns can't be banned in classrooms 1 / 14 Back to Gallery

AUSTIN - Concealed handguns can not be banned from classrooms at the University of Texas at Austin, school officials said in a Thursday report containing recommendations for how to implement the state's new campus carry law.

"Excluding handguns from classrooms would have the effect of generally prohibiting license holders from carrying their handguns and so would violate (the campus carry bill)," read the report from UT-Austin's 19-member campus carry working group. "The only possible way to avoid this result would be for the University to provide gun lockers at strategic points around campus. We believe this would be extremely ill-advised for several reasons."

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The report goes on to note how requiring gun owners to un-holster and store their guns "multiplies the danger of an accidental discharge" or other safety issues: "The risks to human life of placing gun lockers around campus would substantially outweigh any benefits that would accrue from banning concealed handguns in classrooms."

The report does recommend banning concealed carry in several other areas, including on-campus dorms, single-occupant offices if the staff or faculty member wishes and "campus health centers, child care facilities, certain laboratories, pre-K through 12 school-sponsored activities on campus."

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"The Working Group is keenly aware of the sentiment on campus," School of Law professor Steven Goode, who chaired the working group, said in a statement. "We strived to forge recommendations that will promote safety on campus in a way that complies with the law."

The campus carry law goes into effect for four-year public universities in fall 2016, and will allow licensed firearms owners to carry concealed handguns into campus buildings. The law allows campus presidents to designate gun-free zones, but says they must be "reasonable" and not have the effect of broadly banning concealed carry.

Gun-Free UT, a vocal group of staff, faculty, students and alumni, repeatedly urged the working group to recommend banning guns in classrooms, adding they might sue if this recommendation wasn't made. But disagreements arose over how to interpret how much discretion the law gives presidents.

"The Working Group recognizes that allowing concealed handguns in classrooms may chill some class discussion and hinder the recruitment and retention of faculty and students. But it is also clear to us that excluding handguns from classrooms would effectively prohibit license holders from carrying their handguns and so would violate (the campus carry law)," the report read.

The report also contains several recommendations about how to store and carry handguns, and recommends the university examine and possible bolster its mental health services.

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The working group issued the recommendations after several months of consultation with staff, faculty, alumni and students. It already is legal to carry concealed in public areas of colleges, such as sidewalks and quads. Open carrying any firearm at a college or university remains illegal.

The report next will go to President Greg Fenves, who can make changes. The report eventually will be submitted to the UT board of regents for review. They can amend Fenves' recommendations with a two-thirds vote.

Two other public universities - UT-San Antonio and Texas State University - recently issued their campus carry recommendations. Neither institution backed banning guns in classrooms. Private universities can opt completely out of the new law; five already have.