College students in Texas will soon be able to take their guns to class with them. On Sunday, the state legislature approved a measure that would allow students and faculty to carry concealed weapons on campuses. It now heads to Governor Greg Abbott's desk.
Abbott has said he will sign the bill. It would still allow private colleges to ban guns, and allows public schools to set some parts of campus as off-limits, according to Bloomberg News. Students who want a concealed weapon permit must be 21 years old.
Once passed, the law will affect a lot of students: Public institutions have some 1.3 million students at more than 100 schools in the state. According to the Associated Press, most major universities opposed allowing guns into classrooms and dorms.
While it's disturbing to imagine getting into a heated debate with classmates who may or may not be packing heat, campus carry laws aren't new, and they're spreading. Utah became the first state to approve concealed weapons on campus in 2004, and since then another seven have followed suit. This year alone 10 states have considered campus carry measures, and another four are still debating them. However, 20 states already have bans in place.
Texas also approved a bill that would allow licensed gun owners to carry their weapons openly in public, but that would not apply to college campuses.
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