• Classrooms should not be designated gun-exclusion zones, because that would have the effect of generally prohibiting license holders from carrying their handguns and so would violate SB 11.
• License holders who carry a handgun on campus must carry it on or about their person at all times or secured in a locked vehicle.
• Handguns must be carried in a holster that completely and securely covers the entire trigger guard area, even when subjected to unexpected jostling.
• Semiautomatic handguns must be carried without a chambered round of ammunition.
Exceptions
Texas law will continue to prohibit concealed carry of handguns in certain on-campus locations. These include:
• The premises of a pre-K through 12 school, such as UT Elementary School.
• An area where a school activity is being conducted – for example, the Blanton Museum of Art when a public school field trip is being conducted there.
• Sporting or interscholastic events, including all UT athletic events.
The working group recommends concealed carry also be prohibited in:
• Areas where state or federal law, licensing requirements, or contracts require guns be excluded – for example, child-care facilities, and the Nuclear Engineering Teaching Laboratory.
• Patient-care areas, including mental health services – for example, the University Health Services and Counseling and Mental Health Center.
• Areas where formal disciplinary or grievance hearings are being held.
• Areas where the discharge of a firearm might cause great harm, such as labs with dangerous chemicals, biologic agents, or explosive agents, and around equipment incompatible with metallic objects, such as MRI machines.
• Areas where a campus program for minors is conducted.
Residence Halls
• The concealed carry of handguns should be generally prohibited in on-campus residence halls. Except: Concealed carry should be permitted in common areas such as lounges, dining areas, and study areas; by a resident’s family members while visiting a child; and by staff members who are required to be in university housing as part of their employment responsibilities.
• Concealed carry should be allowed in University Apartments (“married student housing”). Residents who have handguns must store them in gun safes that meet specified standards conforming to Housing policy.
Offices
• In the case of a private office that’s not generally open to the public, the occupant may prohibit the concealed carry of a handgun in that office, by providing oral notice – “rather than written notice to avoid the proliferation of signage that would otherwise be required.”
• If the occupant’s duties ordinarily entail meeting people who may be license holders, the occupant must arrange to meet them in another location.
Additional Recommendations
The university should:
• Examine the level of resources devoted to mental health services and better publicize the services already available to the UT community.
• Improve and publicize training materials on how to respond to an active shooter situation, and develop mandatory training materials for all students, staff, and faculty.
• Gather and analyze data on the effects of campus carry, and support the study of issues related to gun violence.
• Make office space within gun-exclusion zones available to faculty and staff who do not have private offices, to be used for meetings on a scheduled basis.
This article appears in December 18 • 2015.