Texas private colleges are saying no to guns on campus

AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — When Texas' conservative Legislature passed a law requiring public universities to allow concealed guns on campus, it also gave the state's private institutions of higher learning the chance to follow suit.

More than 20 private schools have said they won't lift their gun bans when the law takes effect this August, including the state's largest private universities that have religious affiliations and often align with the type of conservative values espoused by the politicians behind the law.

The law faced strong objections from public higher education officials, law enforcement, students and faculty across the state.

The author of the law, Sen. Brian Birdwell, whose district includes Baylor, said he had to protect the public's "God-given" right of self-defense on public property, but also private property rights.

There is an ironic twist to the law's Aug. 1 start date, as it will be the 50th anniversary of sniper Charles Whitman's deadly attack from the top of the University of Texas campus clock tower and administration building.

While some faculty warn Texas' public universities will be less attractive to top teachers, researchers and students once guns are allowed, others are threatening to make a stand this fall against the law.