Texas Moms Respond to Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton’s Opinion on Campus Carry

Austin, Texas – Today the Texas Chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America responded to the non-binding opinion issued by Attorney General Ken Paxton stating that a university policy prohibiting handguns in campus dormitories or classrooms may violate the state’s new guns on campus law.

The Attorney General’s opinion represents a narrow interpretation of the law that runs counter to that of Representative Trey Martinez Fischer, the author of the relevant statutory provision. Representative Fischer has stated that the legislative intent is to allow university presidents broad authority to prohibit guns in sensitive areas, including classrooms. The recommendations recently issued by the University of Texas-Austin Campus Carry Working Group, which suggest that the campus prohibit handguns in offices and dorms, are within the scope of this legislative intent.

“The majority of Texans oppose guns on campus — in fact a survey published by Everytown for Gun Safety showed 72 percent of Texans think college students should not be allowed to bring concealed handguns to class and 66 percent believe college students should not be allowed to carry concealed handguns in student dormitories,” said Anna Kehde, volunteer leader with Texas Moms Demand Action. “We encourage university presidents and leaders to work to make the safety of students and faculty a top priority at Texas colleges and universities.”