North Austin Student Arrested For Bringing Gun To Campus

NORTH AUSTIN, TX — A student at O. Henry Middle School was arrested on Monday after bringing an unloaded handgun to school, according to reports.

Officials were alerted to the weapon after being alerted by another student, the Austin American-Statesman reported. The student reportedly was arrested and taken to the Gardner-Betts Detention Center after being charged with having a weapon in a prohibited place, which is a third-degree felony, the Austin ISD police chief told the newspaper.

No ammunition was found, according to the report. Officials didn't disclose the age or gender of the student who was arrested.

The principal at the school, located at 2610 W. 10th St., Camie Fillpot, wrote a letter alerting parents that read in part: "AISD police immediately launched an investigation and confiscated the weapon." Moreover, a community meeting has now been scheduled on Tuesday, Jan. 30, at 6 p.m. in the school's cafeteria to address the matter.

Championed by Gov. Greg Abbott, two laws were enacted in 2016 allowing for the presence of more firearms in public spaces — the "open carry" law that allows gun license holders to walk around freely with their holstered weapons and the "campus carry" law allowing the same segment to carry their hidden guns on college campuses. The net effect of the laws is the now-common sight of guns displayed at public events by emboldened gun owners.

Pushed through by conservative members of the Texas Legislature whose base comprises a large number of gun rights advocates, the laws were endorsed as a way of enabling gun owners to freely express their rights to own firearms as safeguarded in the U.S. Constitution.

Despite such laws, their presence is banned at many public spaces — including, ironically enough, most if not all police departments — where licensed gun owners aren't allowed such unfettered expressions of support for the 2nd Amendment. Similarly, possession of a weapon on school property is against the law and in violation of the school district's student code of conduct, as the Statesman noted.

>>> Read the full story at Austin American-Statesman

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