St. Edward's University Latest Private School Opting Out Of 'Campus Carry'

SOUTH AUSTIN, TX -- St. Edward’s University is the latest private college to opt out of the state’s “campus carry” law taking effect this summer allowing gun owners to tote their holstered firearms on college grounds.

In announcing their decision Tuesday, university officials said the move is in line with a long-standing policy of not allowing weapons on college property.

“University leadership believes concealed handguns on campus present significant concerns and are not conducive to a positive learning environment,” university officials said in a press release.

Prior informational sessions on the “campus carry” provision due to take effect statewide in August found broad agreement with the university’s stance among students, according to the statement.

With the state’s governor as its most prominent cheerleader, Texas passed the “open carry” provision that took effect Jan. 1. A companion law dubbed “campus carry” is due to take effect in August.

The latter, Senate Bill 11, amended the penal code to authorize concealed handgun license owners to carry their guns on college and university campuses.

But a provision in the law allows private universities to opt out of participating in “campus carry” displays, a step that a growing list of private universities are taking.

Conversely, state-funded universities will be forced to comply--whether or not they support the newfound expression gun owners compelled to carry their weapons in public now have. University of Texas at Austin officials have expressed dismay about the upcoming law, particularly as it relates to guns being in dorms.Ahead of the law’s taking effect, UT-Austin officials expressed hopes of banning guns at least in dorms if unable to prevent the presence of firearms elsewhere on their campus.

In response, the state’s attorney general issued a non-binding legal opinion stating they must comply with the full-fledged breadth of the law rather than applying it piecemeal.

As a private university, St. Edwards joins a growing list of its counterparts in opting out of the new law. The South Austin college is the 21st private university deciding to opt out of the new law.

Other private institutions of higher learning have opted out of “campus carry” before the St. Edward’s decision. Huston-Tillotson University in East Austin and Southwestern University in Georgetown located in Williamson County, previously opted out of campus carry.

In nearby San Antonio, virtually every private university already has opted out: Trinity University, St. Mary’s University, Our Lady of the Lake University and Incarnate Word University.