Guns, knives, and weapons are generally prohibited on school grounds, as provided by school policies and state and federal laws.
Although children in grades 1-12 are generally not eligible for a concealed carry weapon permit, older students on college campuses may be eligible for a concealed carry permit (CCP) in some states—also known as a concealed handgun license (CHL), license to carry (LTC), concealed carry license (CCL), or concealed carry weapon (CCW).
A student’s right to carry a concealed weapon on school grounds may be governed by state and federal laws, as well as school policies.
In Texas, firearms, knives, and other weapons are generally prohibited on the premises of K-12 schools, as mandated by both state statutes and federal law, specifically the Gun-Free School Zones Act of 1990. Texas law, however, does allow for certain exceptions, such as for law enforcement officers or individuals with specific authorization from the school district. Regarding higher education institutions, Texas is one of the states that permit the carrying of concealed handguns on college campuses for those who have a License to Carry (LTC). This is governed by Texas Senate Bill 11, also known as the 'campus carry' law, which went into effect on August 1, 2016, for four-year institutions and a year later for community colleges. The law allows LTC holders to carry concealed handguns in most areas of public college and university campuses, but schools can establish regulations on where concealed handguns are allowed, with certain sensitive areas remaining gun-free. Private institutions have the option to opt out of campus carry entirely. It's important to note that the right to carry a concealed weapon on school grounds is subject to both state regulations and the policies of the individual educational institution.
