Texas Campus Concealed Carry Law, Senate Bill 11 and Texas A&M University-Kingsville
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On June 1, 2015, Texas Governor Greg Abbott signed Senate Bill 11 into law. This law, effective August 1, 2016, authorizes a handgun license holder to carry a concealed handgun on the campus of an institution of higher education, subject to the institution’s rules adopted in accordance with this act. “Campus” includes all land and buildings owned or leased by the institution.
Quick Facts related to the Campus Concealed Carry Law:
• To be a licensed handgun holder, a person must be 21 years old and take/pass the concealed handgun class that is regulated by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). A first-time Concealed Handgun License (CHL) applicant must complete four to six hours of classroom training, pass a written examination and pass a proficiency demonstration (shooting). All classroom and proficiency must be conducted by a CHL instructor certified by the DPS.
2014 statistics suggest that approximately 2.7% of the eligible citizens in the State of Texas are CHL certified. In the age group 21-30, 1.44% of the population are CHL holders. For the Spring 2016 semester, it is estimated that there will be approximately 400 students in our residence halls that are over 21. Using the statistics above, 5 or 6 students in our residence halls will likely be licensed CHL holders.
• All guns must remain concealed at all times or the permit holder is in violation of this law.
• A handgun license holder may not carry a handgun--
a) on the premises of a church, synagogue, or other established place of religious worship. (effective notice required)
b) the physical premises of a school (K-12th grade)
c) on the premises of a high school or professional sporting event or interscholastic event is taking place
d) on the premises of a collegiate sporting event (effective notice required)
e) at any meeting of a government entity (effective notice required)
f) on the premises of a polling place of election day, including early voting location
g) in or into a secured area of an airport.
• Texas A&M University-Kingsville may request additional exclusions from the concealed carry law with adequate justification. Justification should be based on the potential that a discharged firearm might cause a situation that could result in catastrophic harm beyond that caused directly by the firearm.
We cannot justify exclusions based of attitudes or preferences or people who commonly use an area/building of the campus.
• Example of Effective Notification per Texas Penal Code 30.06:
