YCT Stress Importance Of Concealed Carry On Campus

Press Releases / September 28, 2010

Following the events that unfolded at the University of Texas at Austin campus Tuesday morning,Young Conservatives of Texas (YCT) is urging the Texas Legislature to enact legislation allowing students, faculty, and any other visitors on campus who have a Concealed Handgun License to be able to carry a concealed handgun at all Texas universities. Current Texas law states that university
campuses are gun free zones.

Tuesday morning a masked gunman, armed with a semi-automatic rifle, fired shots on the University of Texas campus before turning his gun on himself. Fortunately, no other students were injured or killed.

“The event today proves that so-called ‘gun free zones’ don’t protect people,” said Tony McDonald, YCT’s Senior Vice Chairman. “Crazed gunmen don’t follow firearms regulations; victims do. Students should not be stripped of their rights and forced to rely on the protection of police or the mercy of a killer,” added Mr. McDonald

Tyler Norris, YCT Chapter Chairman at UT received word of the shooting from a friend early Tuesday morning.

“I got a text message from my roommate saying that people were running away from campus because there was a shooting taking place,” said Mr. Norris. “It’s unfortunate that students on campus were unable to protect themselves. I’m just glad nobody was killed or injured.”

House Bill 1893, filed by Representative Joe Driver during the 81st Texas Legislature, would have allowed concealed handgun license holders to carry their concealed handguns on Texas university campuses. Members of YCT testified in support of the bill and lobbied legislators to support ts
passage.

“We are very fortunate that no one other than the gunman was harmed today, but the result could have easily been very different,” said Josh Perry, Executive Director of YCT. “As the old adage says,‘When seconds matter, police are only minutes away.’ Concealed Carry on Campus will be our top legislative priority this upcoming session.” concluded Perry.

Young Conservatives of Texas, a non-partisan conservative youth organization, has been fighting for conservative values for more than three decades in the Lone Star State and publishes the most respected ratings of the Texas Legislature. YCT has chapters at universities across Texas. To learn more about YCT, their legislative ratings, or their endorsements visit www.yct.org.

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