Bills that would allow college students in Texas and Missouri to carry concealed weapons on campus advanced in both the Texas and Missouri House of Representatives this week.  Texas House Bill 1893 passed through committee and would allow students and staff with concealed carry permits to carry handguns on campus while legislators in Missouri amended House Bill 668 to allow people to carry concealed weapons on campus.

Both bills are backed by the student-led national organization Students for Concealed Carry on Campus, which contends that campuses will be safer if students are allowed to carry concealed weapons.  Student support for concealed carry on campus is not, however universal-- student government organizations at the University of Texas and one of the University of Missouri student papers, The Maneater are working to oppose the bills.  According to the National Conference of State Legislatures, similar measures have failed in 19 other states since 2008. One state, Utah, has a law that prohibits public universities from banning concealed weapons on campus.

More from the Houston Chronicle
More from the University of Missouri-Columbia Missourian
More from the University of Texas Daily Texan
More from the University of Missouri-Columbia Maneater