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Baylor Opts Out of Campus Carry

via flickr.com/photos/dhuiz/ (CC BY 2.0)

Baylor University president Ken Starr announced that after consulting with faculty, staff and students, the private university will opt out of campus carry.

Last year, in November – during the Texas Tribune Symposium on higher education – Starr indicated the school would take such action, saying the policy was “unwise.”

"My own view is that it is a very unwise public policy, with all due respect to those who feel strongly,  very, very rooted in constitutional values as they see them," Starr said. "We're here as seats of learning, and I do not think this is helpful."

In a press release, Starr said:

“The University community has come together to consider this matter, and we are grateful to our Faculty Senate, Staff Council and Student Government that actively engaged our campus and sought feedback on this important issue,” Starr said. “Regardless of where our faculty, staff and students stand on the issue, we do know that they care deeply about the safety of our campus. We applaud and appreciate the deliberate process undertaken by our campus community and their invaluable contributions to the University’s response on campus carry.”

The new law – which went into affect last August – allows concealed license holders to carry guns at public universities. Private schools, however, had the opportunity to ban the weapons.

State Senator Brian Birdwell, one of the bill’s main authors, represents district 22, which includes areas of McLennan County.