UNT Identifies Gun Free Zones For Campus Carry Law
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DENTON (CBS11) - Alec Awad says he intends to carry a concealed handgun at the University of North Texas in Denton next fall. "I turned 21 last Wednesday, and I got my CHL last Wednesday."
In August, Awad, who will be a senior, and all others who are 21 and older who have a concealed handgun license, can carry their firearms on public universities in Texas such as UNT, as long as they're hidden.
After mass shootings across the country, Awad and others say the new law makes them feel safer. "It's strictly to protect everyone on campus cause everyone here is an Eagle and is family now."
A task force of about 20 students and staff at UNT just developed a plan identifying gun-free zones on campus.
According to the Denton Record Chronicle, gun free zones include sporting events at Apogee Stadium and at the UNT Coliseum.
Other sites reportedly include religious places of worship, polling places, medical and health clinics, and other areas where services are provided to both college students and minors.
Roberta Morales just graduated UNT this month, and says she's glad she won't have to be a student here when the law goes into effect. "It's a scary thing to see anyone out in the open with a gun. I just wouldn't feel comfortable if a classmate had a gun or several classmates have guns. I understand that they'd be protecting people, but at the end of the day, you don't really know the intent of people."
Margarita Venegas is a UNT spokeswoman who is a member of the task force.
She says they had to consider concerns from those on both sides of the issue. "We had to keep in mind the gun free zones not be so restrictive as to negate the spirit of the law."
Aside from UNT, other public universities such as UT Arlington have already developed their plan identifying gun free zones.
UT Dallas says it's plan should be released early next month.
While campus carry is mandatory for state universities, private universities can opt-out.
Both Southern Methodist University in Dallas and Texas Christian University in Fort Worth have done so.
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