Texas Open-Carry Of Handguns Spur Debate; Inspires Campus-Carry Initiative

Apr 19, 2015 05:23 AM EDT

(Photo : Reuters) A trainee fires his Heckler & Koch .40 caliber P2000 handgun during a class session on the firing range at the U.S. Border Patrol Training Academy in Artesia, New Mexico, August 17, 2006. The U.S. Border Patrol shoots more rounds of hand gun ammunition than any other U.S. law enforcement agency. Each graduating trainee keeps the handgun they are issued at the academy for use as a Border Patrol Agent. Picture taken August 17. REUTERS/Jeff Topping (UNITED STATES)

Although there are already seven states that permit students to bring guns to the campus if they are 21, the weapon is concealed and under certain circumstances, Texas is introducing new legislation that could bring the guns out in the open.

The "open-carry" bill that would permit Texas residents to bring weapons on their shoulders or in a holster has triggered debate because of a plan to attach the "campus-carry" bill to the "open-carry" legislation.

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Fox reports that the "open-carry" bill is close to becoming a law after 96 members of the state's House of Representatives voted on Friday to pass the proposal. In contrasts, only 35 did not favor the bill. In March, Texas's Senate passed a similar measure.

The two bills would be merged and sent to Gov. Greg Abbott, a GOP member and reportedly supportive of the idea for residents to carry out in the open their weapons.

If approved into a law, it would reduce to five the number of states that ban open-carry of guns, which includes California, Florida and New York. However, Texas already allows residents to carry long guns in public.

Texas Sen. Brian Birdwell, author of the "campus-carry" bill, said he crafted the proposal in response to students expressing to him their concerns over their safety inside the campus. Having a weapon is considered by some students as a way to prevent assaults and other crimes inside the campus, NBC reports.

But anti-gun lobby groups are also actively opposing the measures.

A sophomore student pointed out that violence is pervasive in universities and colleges, and allowing immature students to have guns is dangerous.

However, for Andy Pelosi of the Campaign to Keep Guns Off Campus, the issue is not really about safety but about pushing for gun legislation is states with large populations like Florida and Texas and guns into public places.

Another Republican lawmaker who sponsored a bill in December to allow guns in Florida campuses, Rep. Greg Steube, is for expansion of "people's right" to defend themselves outside colleges and universities.