Texas A&M University-Commerce is seeking input from students, faculty and staff as it crafts its policy regarding the new “Campus Concealed Carry” law which will go into effect on Aug. 1, 2016. All schools in The Texas A&M University System, including A&M-Commerce, will submit campus-carry policies and procedures to the chancellor and the Board of Regents by Feb. 1, 2016, for review. The schools and the system will then have six months to determine final specifics of each member institution’s policy until the new law becomes active.
Only concealed handgun license holders would be able to carry handguns on campus. The bill does not allow openly carrying or intentionally displaying weapons.
“We are engaging in a deliberative and highly inclusive process to ensure not only that we comply fully with SB11, but also ensure the safety of the campus community,” said A&M-Commerce President Dan Jones.
The university hosted a half-hour forum the on the topic at the Performing Arts Center on Oct. 28. An hour-long forum specifically for faculty is scheduled for 10 a.m. in Room 345 of the McDowell Administration Building.
Specifics that remain undetermined include the designation of gun-free zones and the logistics of gun possession in residence halls. License holders will be able to have handguns in residence halls, but regulations regarding possession of the weapons, and logistics of possible weapon storage in residence halls, have not been finalized.
High school sporting events and other competitions on campus are expected to be designated gun-free zones in accordance with University Interscholastic League regulations. A&M-Commerce is considering the option of designating some or all athletics events as gun-free zones.
The new law specifically prohibits the designation of classroom as gun-free zones.
A&M-Commerce has a web page, including a user feedback form, specifically for the new “Campus Concealed Carry” law.
