Baylor University and Concealed Carry

BY DANA CRISWELL

Baylor University students want the right to protect themselves while on campus.  As most universities in our country, students of Baylor University are required to submit their right to defend themselves against an attacker to the university administration and campus police.  Even though it has been proven many time, with the lives of other students, that campus police and university “no gun” polices put students in danger, school administrators seem more concerned with politics than safety.

In 2013 the Baylor Young Conservatives pushed for a Texas state bill that would have mandated that all university campuses allow concealed carry on campus.  The bill never made it through the Texas legislature, but since Baylor is a private school they have the right to decide if students who are licensed by the state to carry a concealed weapon can carry on campus.

This week the Baylor Student Senate passed a bill that would allow students to carry concealed weapons on campus. Senior Gannon McCahill the author of the student senate bill said,
“As student senate, we do our best to provide for students,”

He acknowledged the expertise of the Baylor Police Department, but expressed concern for classroom situations.

Dr. Dwight Allman, associate professor of political science and member of the Faculty Senate, said he’s not at all persuaded by the threat of an attack on campus calling for concealed carry.
“I don’t think there’s a need for this,” he said. He suggested reliance upon the already instated safety institutions such as the Baylor Police Department.

Even thought the bill passed the student senate there is no guarantee it will be approved by the university administration.  In the mean time students at Baylor University remain defenseless.