• U.S.
  • Guns

Texas Lawmakers Pass Bill to Allow Concealed Carry at Public Colleges

1 minute read

The Texas state legislature passed a bill Monday that would allow people to carry concealed guns in buildings on public college campuses, and Governor Greg Abbott is expected to sign it.

The new law would remove a blanket ban on guns on campus at public Texas colleges, though school administrators could still ban guns from specific buildings, CNN reports. Backers of the bill claim it will provide increased individual protection to properly licensed gun-owners, but opponents argue campus shootings could increase and schools will have to pay up to boost security.

Texas is the first state to have a campus-carry bill reach the governor’s desk to be signed. Private universities won’t be affected by the new bill, and openly carrying a weapon on a public college campus would remain prohibited.

[CNN]

Read next: Vince Vaughn Says Banning Guns ‘Like Banning Forks’

More Must-Reads From TIME

Contact us at letters@time.com