Campus Carry policy holds strong

As of Sept. 1, changes to Texas gun law and the concept known as “permitless carry” went into effect.

“Permitless carry” authorizes qualifying individuals to carry a firearm without a permit or training in places where doing so is not otherwise prohibited, according to Van Slusser, UTRGV’s assistant chief of police.

In Texas, an individual must still be eligible to carry a firearm either by state or federal law.

“Permitless carry” does not apply to those under 21 years of age, felons or those who have been convicted of assault or domestic violence in the last 5 years.

“That doesn’t affect anything on campus,” Slusser said. “But, outside the campus environment, that change went into effect Sept. 1.”

On campus, the law is the same today as it was two years ago. The university’s rules still fall under its Campus Carry policy.

“Unless the person is a peace officer, you can’t ever carry a handgun on campus that is not concealed,” he said. “If you’re carrying under Campus Carry, it has to be concealed and it has to be in a holster.”

Eligible individuals who wish to carry on campus must keep the firearm in their immediate possession and secure in a holster that covers the trigger and keeps the firearm in place, Slusser said.

If a firearm is observed in any other condition, it can be reported to the university police.

“That’s what we’re here for, to keep everyone safe,” he said. “We’ll happily come out and check things out and make sure things are on the up and up. You can contact us through our emergency line, (956) 882-4911.”

UTRGV’s policy requires an individual to go through a process before being able to carry firearms.

“Basically, you have to be licensed with a permit,” Slusser said. “You have to be at least 21 years of age. You have to go through a background check and be fingerprinted. You have to attend a training course.”

This process will allow an individual to carry concealed handguns on campus in areas not subject to exclusion.

The university’s Campus Carry policy is overseen by a small group created in 2016 to focus on gun policy, according to Noelyn Llasos, UTRGV’s academic outreach coordinator and president of the Staff Senate.

“It is a group that will continually be updating the policy if they need to,” Llasos said about the Campus Carry working group. “From what I understand, they will convene if they need to review this policy.”

Updated information about exclusion zones and Campus Carry can be found online at utrgv.edu/campuscarry, she said.

Places where minors are dealt with come to mind first, Llasos said about exclusion zones, such as the UTRGV Child Development Center and the UTRGV Education building.

Certain laboratories, clinical sites, counseling areas, athletic events and other similar spaces also count as exclusion zones.

“Keep safety first,” Llasos said in a message about campus security. “They can pass different bills and laws. The thing is, it is a personal responsibility to keep our campus community safe.”

So far, any individuals who carry concealed weapons on campus have proved to be responsible gun owners, Slusser said.

“Campus Carry has been around for four or five years now,” he said. “We’ve never had an arrest or any criminal charges resulting from issues stemming from Campus Carry.”

University Police will continue to act according to UTRGV’s Campus Carry policy in ensuring the safety of the campus environment.

“If somebody does choose to carry a firearm,” Slusser said, “they need to know their rights and their responsibilities. For everybody else, if you see something that doesn’t look right, or that looks suspicious, please let us know.”