Baylor bans handguns

WACO—Baylor University will not permit individuals with concealed handgun licenses to carry weapons on campus, President Ken Starr announced.

Starr told the university’s board of regents Baylor will opt out of Texas Senate Bill 11, commonly known as the “campus carry” law.

The bill—signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott last June—prohibits public institutions of higher education from passing rules that prevent licensed gun-owners from carrying concealed weapons on school property. However, the law—which takes effect Aug. 1—included a limited exemption for private colleges and universities.

Several other private religiously affiliated schools in Texas—including Southern Methodist University and Texas Christian University—already announced they would ban handguns on campus property.

Starr noted the school’s faculty senate and staff council had debated the matter, and student government leaders sought input through two weeks of educational events, a panel discussion, a public deliberation session, focus groups and a student online poll.

“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,” Starr said. “We applaud and appreciate the deliberate process undertaken by our campus community and their invaluable contributions to the university’s response on campus carry.”