Sparber, S. (2021, March 11). Lawmaker pushes to allow weapons in Texas public schools. The Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2021/03/11/texas-legislature-campus-carry-guns-schools/

Litvinov, A. (2018, March 24). Lawmakers in these 6 states are pushing to arm teachers. National Education Association. https://educationvotes.nea.org/2019/04/25/lawmakers-in-these-6-states-are-pushing-to-arm-teachers/

·      This bill provides immunity to any school employee that takes reasonable action to ensure student safety during an active shooter situation.  

·      The bill requires employees to receive written permission from the board of trustees to carry a weapon on campus.  

·      https://www.kltv.com/2021/03/10/hefners-hb-moves-committee/

Fraizer, S. (2021, March 10). Rep. Hefner’s bill on armed school security immunity moves to committee. KLVT. https://www.kltv.com/2021/03/10/hefners-hb-moves-committee/

·      The professors claim that allowing weapons in the classroom would discourage free speech.  

·      The professors’ claim was thrown out by a federal judge in 2017.  

·      The professors claim was also thrown out by a federal appeals court in 2018.

·      The courts determined that the professors' claims were unfounded.  

·      https://www.texastribune.org/2018/08/16/appeals-court-rejects-texas-campus-carry-lawsuit/

Pollock, C. & Platoff, E. (2018, August 16). Federal appeals court upholds Texas campus carry law. The Texas Tribune. https://www.texastribune.org/2018/08/16/appeals-court-rejects-texas-campus-carry-lawsuit/

            This law pertains to the qualifications for Texas citizens to obtain a License to Carry (LTC).  The law requires LTC holders to be free of felony convictions, attend a training course, and have the ability to pass a drug test (4 T.G.C. § 411.172).  The law clearly outlines the qualifications for LTC holders and outlines the consequences for those that do not obey the law.  It is imperative that all LTC holders read and understand this section of the law to ensure that they remain compliant.  
Texas Government Code, 4 T.G.C. § 411.172 (2009). https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/Docs/ GV/htm/GV.411.htm  

            This law outlines the regulations and requirements for campus carry and school safety training.  The law provides provisions for handgun instructors to tech a school safety course.  The law requires handgun instructors to present information and strategies for: 

(1) the protection of students;

(2)  interaction of license holders with first responders;

(3)  tactics for denying an intruder entry into a classroom or school facility; and

(4)  methods for increasing a license holder's accuracy with a handgun while under duress (4 T.G.C. §411.1901).  This course is currently a requirement for all LTC holders that are authorized to carry a weapon on campus.  The fifteen-hour course must be taught by a licensed handgun instructor, certified by the Department of Public Safety.  
Texas Government Code, 4 T.G.C. § 411.1901 (2015). https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/ Docs/GV/htm/GV.411.htm

            This law pertains to the appointment of school marshals.  The law states that the board of trustees may appoint a school employee as a school marshal, allowing that person to carry a weapon on campus.  The employee may carry or have access to a handgun, as long as the employee follows guidelines outlined by the policy adopted by the board of trustees (37 T.E.C. § 37.0811).  This law enables school that are financially unable to hire a resource officer to appoint a school marshal for every 400 students.  
Tex. Educ. Code, 37 T.E.C. § 37.0811 (2015). https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/StatutesByDate .aspx?code=ED&level=SE&value=37.0811&date=1/23/2015

            Campus carry was written into law through S.B. 11 in 2015.  This law states, 

“A license holder may carry a concealed handgun on or about the license holder’s person while the license holder is on the campus of an institution of higher education or private or independent institution of higher education in this state” (T.G.C. 4 T.G.C. § 411.2031).  

This law allows LTC holders to carry a concealed handgun on to public university campuses in Texas.  When S.B. 11 was written into law, college professors from many institutions across the state protested the decision.  There have not been any shootings on a college campus in Texas since the passage of S.B. 11.  
 Texas Government Code, 4 T.G.C. § 411.2031 (2015). https://texas.public.law/statutes/tex ._gov't_code_section_411.2031#:~:text=A%20license%20holder%20may%20carry,higher%20education%20in%20this%20state.

Tex. Admin. Code. (1998) 19 T.A.C. § 247.2. https://texreg.sos.state.tx.us/public/readtac$ext.TacPage?sl=R&app=9&p_dir=&p_rloc=&p_tloc=&p_ploc=&pg=1&p_tac=&ti=19&pt=7&ch=247&rl=2

Short, A. (n.d.). Higher education law: guns on campus. State Bar of Texas. https://www.texasbar.com/AM/Template.cfm?Section=articles&Template=/CM/HTMLDisplay.cfm&ContentID=37829

·      Texas law provides schools with the guidelines for implementing a school marshal program.  Administrators must comply with the correct number of marshals per student.  

·       Currently, school marshals and other designated school employees are the only individuals allowed to carry a weapon on campus.  

·      School marshals and other employees that carry a weapon on campus must be certified through a school safety program.  

·      Administrators should be aware of the employees that are armed and ensure that their licenses and certifications are up to date.  

·      Local policy can require more rigorous training for individuals that carry a weapon on campus.  

·      School marshals and other individuals authorized to carry a weapon on campus may be subject to mental health evaluations.  

·      Local policy should reflect the interest of stakeholders.  The local policy should be developed with the board of trustees and other stakeholders to provide ambiguity.