Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) on Saturday signed a bill to allow concealed handguns on college campuses, despite opposition from universities in the state, according to Austin television station KXAN.
The bill allows private universities to opt out of campus carry and allows university presidents to declare “gun free” zones on their campuses, according to KXAN. All colleges will be able to set their own rules on how firearms can be carried and where.
Before signing the bill on Saturday, Abbott dismissed the concerns of those who felt the bill could lead to more violence.
“In general, what we’ve seen in the states that have campus carry, there haven’t been any problems on those campuses,” he said at a bill signing at a shooting range, according to the Texas Tribune. “I think that the way the Legislature worked this out [that] we will see that campus carry in the state of Texas will also pose no more problems.”
Abbott also signed an open-carry bill into law on Saturday at Red’s Indoor Range, a shooting range and gun store in Pflugerville. The bill will allow Texans to openly carry a holstered handgun in areas where concealed carry is allowed, according to Houston television station KHOU.
“There is nothing more important in democracy than the voice of the
people stepping up and saying ‘We expect the Constitution of the United
States of America to be our guiding doctrine,’” he said.
