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Some of you will remember the list members being asked for input with respect to Texas's new law which requires public colleges and universities to permit concealed carry of firearms and whether laboratories should be considered an exclusion zone.
The full report is available here: https://utexas.app.box.com/campus-carry-report The pertinent sections to DCHAS are:=E2- No guns in dormitories, with a few exceptions. This is less significant than it appears: More than 80 percent of the university's students live off-campus, and a person must be 21 or older to get a concealed carry license in Texas, so most undergraduates would be excluded, anyway.=E2- Concealed firearms will be allowed in common areas of dorms like dining halls and lounges.=E2- Concealed carry will be banned in staff or student disciplinary hearings; in laboratories with dangerous chemicals, biological agents or anything explosive; in any laboratory or other facility that houses animals; and in any facilities that provide patient care, including mental health counseling.=E2- People who work in campus programs for children younger than college age will be prohibited from carrying handguns while taking part in those programs.
Finding: Handgun license holders are generally not trained on the safe use of weapons in areas where an accidental or intentional discharge might cause great harm such as laboratories with hazardous chemicals, gases, or biological agents. Such a discharge of a weapon could have grave and catastrophic consequences. Moreover, handguns are inappropriate in the vicinity of some types of equipment, such as equipment containing powerful magnets. This policy is reasonable and addresses specific safety considerations necessary to ensure safety in these unique environments. This policy does not have the effect of generally prohibiting license holders from carrying concealed handguns on campus. The adoption of this policy is within the authority granted to university presidents.Implementation Strategy and Criteria: There are many locations and activities on campus that require these specific safety considerations. The campus will identify and prohibit the carrying of concealed handguns from these areas. The campus will provide the required notice along with information in appropriate materials and websites.
Finding: Because of the unique and particularly sensitive environments under which research involving animals is undertaken, animal research, care and use areas have strict protocols for entering and exiting these facilities, including clothing and other protective requirements. Compliance with these protocols may increase risks of weapon discharge, contamination or unanticipated separation of a handgun from the license holder. As such, handguns are inappropriate in these specialized facilities. This policy is reasonable and addresses specific safety considerations necessary to ensure safety in these unique environments. This policy does not have the effect of generally prohibiting license holders from carrying concealed handguns on campus. The adoption of this policy is within the authority granted to university presidents.Implementation Strategy and Criteria: There are several animal-research locations on campus that require these specific safety considerations. The campus will identify and prohibit the carrying of concealed handguns from these areas. The campus will provide the required notice along with information in appropriate materials and websites.
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