Texas Senate Could Consider Campus Parking Lot Bill As Early As Tomorrow

Last week, the Texas Senate Criminal Justice Committee reported Senate Bill 1907, introduced by state Senator Glenn Hegar (R-Katy), a measure that would protect the rights of public and private college and university students with Concealed Handgun Licenses (CHLs) to transport and store handguns in their locked private motor vehicles while driving through or parking on campus.  SB 1907 has been placed on the Senate Intent Calendar and could be brought up for debate on the Senate floor as early as tomorrow, April 30. 

Under Texas law, anyone can legally drive through campus with a lawfully-owned firearm in their car and leave it there while parked on campus.  And thanks to enactment of SB 321 (also sponsored by Senator Hegar) last session, public and private colleges and universities cannot enforce any internal or administrative policies against faculty, staff or employees who transport and store lawfully owned guns in their personal vehicles on campus.  But students who have undergone a rigorous background check, completed extensive training and been issued a license to carry a handgun by DPS could be suspended or expelled from school for doing the same thing if their campus has a weapons-free policy.

In order to qualify for a CHL, an individual must be at least 21 years of age unless he or she is active military personnel or a veteran of the armed forces.  Students with CHLs provided compelling testimony in committee as to the need for this legislation.  One reported not being able to report for Guard duty directly from campus because he is forced to leave his concealed handgun at home instead of in his parked car while attending class.  Another spoke to effectively being denied the right to protect himself during his commute to and from class because of campus policy.

Please contact your state Senator and urge him or her to support SB 1907, which grants students with CHLs the same personal protection rights that Texas law affords faculty, staff and employees at institutions of higher education.  Capitol telephone numbers are provided below, but you may also send your state Senator an e-mail by clicking on this website and selecting his or her name.

SD-1 Senator Kevin Eltife (R-Tyler)

512-463-0101

SD-2 Senator Bob Deuell (R-Greenville)

512-463-0102

SD-3 Senator Robert Nichols (R-Jacksonville)

512-463-0103

SD-4 Senator Tommy Williams (R-The Woodlands)

512-463-0104

SD-5 Senator Charles Schwertner (R-Georgetown)

512-463-0105 Note: Please thank Sen. Schwertner for supporting SB 1907 in committee

SD-6 Senator Sylvia Garcia (D-Palito Blanco)

512-463-0106

SD-7 Senator Dan Patrick (R-Houston)

512-463-0107 Note: Please thank Sen. Patrick for supporting SB 1907 in committee

SD-8 Senator Ken Paxton (R-McKinney)

512-463-0108

SD-9 Senator Kelly Hancock (R-North Richland Hills)

512-463-0109

SD-10 Senator Wendy Davis (D-Fort Worth)

512-463-0110

SD-11 Senator Larry Taylor (R-Friendswood)

512-463-0111

SD-12 Senator Jane Nelson (R-Grapevine)

512-463-0112

SD-13 Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston)

512-463-0113

SD-14 Senator Kirk Watson (D-Austin)

512-463-0114

SD-15 Senator John Whitmire (D-Houston)

512-463-0115 Note: Please thank Sen. Whitmire for supporting SB 1907 in committee

SD-16 Senator John Carona (R-Dallas)

512-463-0116

SD-17 Senator Joan Huffman (R-Houston)

512-463-0117 Note: Please thank Sen. Huffman for supporting SB 1907 in committee

SD-18 Senator Glenn Hegar (R-Katy)

512-463-0118 Note: Please thank Sen. Hegar for sponsoring SB 1907

SD-19 Senator Carlos Uresti (D-San Antonio)

512-463-0119

SD-20 Senator Juan “Chuy” Hinojosa (D-McAllen)

512-463-0120

SD-21 Senator Judith Zaffirini (D-Laredo)

512-463-0121

SD-22 Senator Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury)

512-463-0122

SD-23 Senator Royce West (D-Dallas)

512-463-0123

SD-24 Senator Troy Fraser (R-Horseshoe Bay)

512-463-0124

SD-25 Senator Donna Campbell (R-New Braunfels)

512-463-0125

SD-26 Senator Leticia Van de Putte (D-San Antonio)

512-463-0126

SD-27 Senator Eddie Lucio, Jr. (D-Brownsville)

512-463-0127

SD-28 Senator Robert Duncan (R-Lubbock)

512-463-0128

SD-29 Senator Jose Rodriguez (D-El Paso)

512-463-0129

SD-30 Senator Craig Estes (R-Wichita Falls)

512-463-0130

SD-31 Senator Kel Seliger (R-Amarillo)

512-463-0131