FACULTY SENATE RESOLUTION IN OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED HANDGUN LEGISLATION
[Approved by majority vote of the Faculty Affairs Committee on March 26, 2009,
the Executive Committee on April 1, 2009 and the Senate on April 15, 2009]

Whereas, Current law recognizes that the conditions at educational institutions, including universities, require a different balancing than in society at large with respect to weapons possession.  Section 46.03(a) of the Texas Penal Code currently makes it a third degree felony to carry a "firearm, illegal knife, club, or prohibited weapon listed in Section 46.05(a): (1) on the physical premises of a school or educational institution, any grounds or building on which an activity sponsored by a school or educational institution is being conducted, or a passenger transportation vehicle of a school or educational institution, whether the school or educational institution is public or private, unless pursuant to written regulations or written authorization of the institution." The current statute (section 46.03(f) further states that it is not a defense to prosecution under this section that the actor possessed a handgun and was licensed to carry a concealed handgun under Subchapter H, Chapter 411, Government Code.

Whereas, College campuses are often crowded places of considerable tension where diverse students, faculty and staff are placed together in high-stakes environment.

Whereas, Students from diverse backgrounds are placed together in often crowded dormitories where tensions over a variety of matters may manifest.

Whereas, Many on college campuses are young and, notwithstanding the technical ability to handle firearms or other dangerous weapons, may lack the emotional maturity and coping skills needed to use them responsibly. Students’  futures are affected or perceived to be affected by faculty practices.

Whereas, Many faculty have dealt with irate students; some have been assaulted by them. Serious disputes among faculty or faculty and staff are not unknown. The introduction of deadly weapons into those scenarios would heighten the risk of serious injury or death.

Whereas, Bringing weapons onto college campuses challenges the ability of educational institutions to be places of scholarly reflection. While there are, regrettably, far too many acts of violence already occurring on college campuses, and while these acts themselves can disrupt the ability of the community to reflect thoughtfully on issues of scientific and human interest, the situation is not presently so grave as to warrant further corruption of the ideal of a scholarly community. The Faculty Senate believes the open discussion amongst highly diverse students and faculty of contemporary issues of controversy such as abortion, affirmative action, evolution, or the Middle East would be placed gravely at risk if it were known that some in the conversation were lawfully carrying concealed weapons and that they might be under significant stress at the time.

Whereas, There are alternative measures that universities have and can take to reduce the risk of violence. Some of these measures such as warning sirens and electronic alerts diminish the risk of a Virginia Tech or Columbine situation recurring with similar severity.  Others involve creative use of patrol techniques such as placing police on bicycles or greater use of security cameras. Universities can, pursuant to existing laws, authorize persons with particular needs, such as researchers working late at night, to carry defensive weapons on campus.  And individuals can carry non-lethal weaponry such as tasers and mace to deter many attacks.  While these measures are imperfect, they pose far fewer risks to students, staff and faculty than the legalized introduction of handguns and other lethal weapons.

Whereas, The empirical evidence on which set of risks is greater is in its early stages and is of contested quality. Policies that may work well in some university communities may not work well in others.  It is the sense of the Faculty Senate, however, who must, after all live every day under the rules regarding weapons possession, that they are at this time likely to be safer under existing laws, coupled with vigorous law enforcement and other deterrence measures, than under laws that would enlarge the scope of lawful weapons possession on Texas college campuses.

Whereas, Bills are about to be filed that would alter the treatment of universities and allow individuals with permits to carry concealed handguns on campus.

Therefore be it resolved that the University of Houston Faculty Senate believes that the balancing of competing concerns weighs strongly against significant expansion of the ability to carry firearms and other weapons on to university campuses.

Be it further resolved that The Faculty Senate believes its views on this matter should be accorded special respect because faculty lie at the fulcrum of the competing risks at issue here and thus stand to pay with their lives for mistaken policies.

Original Statement