Every student at The University of Texas has heard of the “campus carry” issue, be it through the seemingly weekly rallies on the West Mall or the continual news coverage surrounding the the issue. But what are the facts? What is this issue really about and how is it affecting and going to affect our school and campus?

On June 1 of this year, Governor Greg Abbott signed S.B. 11, known as “campus carry,” into law. It will go into effect before the fall 2016 semester. The law allows gun license holders to carry a concealed handgun on campus, giving public universities some control over the law’s regulation.

The University of Texas came forward with a statement affirming its dedication to creating policies that conform to the new law in balancing the protection of citizen rights while ensuring the safety and security of the campus. There is currently a 19-member working group, consisting of university faculty, staff, students and alumni representatives, formed to recommend to UT President Greg Fenves on the implementation of the law.

Supporters of the law feel that licensed people have a right to bear arms, even on a public college campus. Only an estimated one percent of students have licenses to carry, and only about 500 students above the age of 21 (the age required to obtain a license) live on campus. It is the opinion of supporters that because the law only allows licensed people to bear arms, it is therefore appropriate for them to be allowed to bear a concealed handgun as a constitutional right.

However, many are not so happy about the law. Ongoing protests surround the issue, led by students and faculty alike. Opposers feel that the right to bear a concealed firearm on campus actually infringes on the general population’s right to freedom of expression as having a gun in a classroom setting could threaten peaceful and open academic discussion. The video below has clips of a West Mall protest along with interviews and statements with students from both sides.

The law is set to go into effect August 1, 2016, the 50-year anniversary of the UT Tower shooting. Discussion continues to surround the controversial issue as the university administration decides what it is going to do about “campus carry.”