Arguments being made on both sides
In the wake of Monday’s shooting in College station that claimed the life of Constable Brian Bachmann, the debate over whether or not to allow students to carry concealed weapons has re-ignited.
Lawmakers in Texas have tried to get a bill passed a couple of times without success allowing legal guns on campus. Utah and Colorado already have laws in place. State Senator Rodney Ellis says allowing it here would be problematic.
State Senator Rodney Ellis
“I think the idea of having guns on a college campus would simply make a bad situation an even more serious problem.” Ellis told KTRH.
But there are plenty of people who don't agree. Jeremy Alcede, the owner of Tactical Firearms in Katy is one of those people. He's says it would be an effective deterrent.
“Start the process to get our foot in the door. Don’t just say that everybody can carry,” said Alcede “Say that if you have a concealed carry permit, you’re allowed to carry in a movie theatre or a mall or a college campus. And I guarantee that the bad guys are going to think twice about coming into an armed facility.”
Alcede also says the background checks need to be more thorough, and that the FBI and ATF need to become more vigilant.
How is this playing out on the Texas A & M campus? Scott Bowen, the Speaker of the Student Senate at A&M, agrees with Alcede, but thinks more needs to be done.
“In my mind it is an answer but not the only one. You still have to have a fully staff and aware police force. You have to have notification systems in place. And most of that is in place at A & M,” Bowen told KTRH.
