BLINN COLLEGE TO CONSIDER ADOPTING HANDGUN POLICY

  

Blinn College trustees will consider adopting a “campus carry” policy on concealed handguns during their meeting on Tuesday.

On Aug. 1st this year, a law allowing concealed handgun license holders to carry their weapons on community college campuses will go into effect.

Last year, Blinn formed a 34-member Campus Carry Task Force made up of faculty, staff, students, and administrators. The committee was tasked will providing Blinn President Mary Hensley with recommendations regarding implementation of the law.

The new law requires the president of each institution to establish rules regarding concealed handguns.

A 250-page report included in Tuesday's agenda packet recommends that concealed handguns be allowed in classrooms. It also recommends firearms not be banned in campus residential facilities, provided the individual student has an approved storage device.

The report also calls for no ban in “single occupant” faculty offices. However faculty members would be able to seek a ban through an appeals process. Handguns would not be allowed in sporting events or University Interscholastic League-sponsored events, as is dictated by state law.

The full report can be read by clicking here.

Also during Tuesday's meeting, the board will hear a presentation by Mark Posada,  Texas Engineering Extension service Manager of Education and Training Initiatives.

Last year, Blinn College, TEEX and Texas A&M entered into a “memorandum of understanding” to expand workforce training in the area. The board will hear an update about the ongoing training offered by TEEX along with current and future partnerships with Blinn.

The trustees will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday on Texas A&M University’s RELLIS campus in College Station in building 7751 East, Classroom D.