‘Campus carry’ Legislation Stalls Again In Austin
Another roadblock for a bill aimed at allowing students to carry guns on college campuses.
The author of the Senate bill, Sen. Jeff Wentworth (R-San Antonio), again failed to get the votes needed to bring the proposed legislation to the floor for debate.
21 votes are needed to debate the bill, but right now there are only 20.
Senator Mario Gallegos (D-Houston) says he spent the weekend talking with concerned faculty and students who don’t support the legislation.
Last week, Gallegos said he would vote to debate the bill, but has since changed his mind.
A second Senator has withdrawn his support.
Sen. Eddie Lucio (D-Brownsville) did so after learning that high school students study on the college campus of Texas A&M Kingsville.
“Overall there’s more concern for the bill than there is support for it,” Sen. Lucio said.
As of now, Sen. Wentworth refuses to accept an amendment that would exempt Texas A&M Kingsville.
“It’s not over by a long shot, but he’s going to struggle to be able to get that one vote unless he agrees to take Senator Davis’ amendment or my amendment,” Sen. Lucio said.
Sen. Wendy Davis’ amendment would give each college the right to opt out.
Former Virginia Tech student, John Woods has been coming to the capitol for several weeks to speak out against the bill.
Woods says he’s optimistic of the lack of votes needed to bring the bill to the Senate floor.
“The longer it takes for it to get to the floor in either chamber the better our changes are of defeating it,” Woods said.