My Response to Email Questionairre regarding legislation

Laura,
I would be happy to answer the questions you asked to the best of my immediate knowledge.

1. Getting the word out about conceal and cary on campus at SMU is not as easy as it may be at other schools due to SMU's clearly articulated opposition to the current house and senate bills in the Texas legislature. There is however a growing movement on the internet and social networking sites to get the word out about upcoming legislation as well as news stories and talking points. We have an extensive Facebook network for SCCC that has allowed us to keep in touch regarding upcoming opportunities to have our voices heard. For example, members of SCCC were called upon to contact our state representatives regarding the house and senate bills concerning conceal and carry when it looked like they would stall in committee. We all wrote many letters and the bills made it through the committees. Facebook and Twitter have provided avenues to get the word out, when it is fairly clear how the Universities themselves feel.

2. I'm not exactly sure since we are just getting starting here at SMU. Interest seems to have picked up quite a bit since January.

3. see answer to 1.

4. I have heard that one of the concessions to get the bill up for a vote was to allow private universities to still have their own constitutional interpretations and rules. We look at the passage of this legislation as a victory and a big step for civil rights regardless of what caveats and carveouts are attached. If CHL holders are able to carry on the many public campuses in Texas, it will become clear that there is nothing to fear from CHL holders. Eventually I would hope that all universities would recognize the constititutional rights of CHL holders or CHL holders will have a choice, to attend a university that wants them there with all of their constitutional rights, or go to one that doesn't.

5. I don't see any severe issues if the legislation does exclude private schools. Private universities are private for a reason. I know that CHL holders will continue to be law abiding regardless of whether we agree with the school policy or not. They value their right to have a CHL and would not jeopardize that in any fashion. The future students will, however, have the choice on where they want to attend school. If the legislation passes and next year I was entering my first year of graduate school instead of my last, I might reconsider attending a private university that does not recognize my rights regarding CHL.

Feel free to contact me with any other questions.
-Lance Erickson
SMU SCCC Campus Rep
Candidate for Juris Doctorate May 2010.

From: Laura Freytes [belle4325@yahoo.com]Sent: Wednesday, April 15, 2009 8:58 PMTo: Erickson, Lance JustinSubject: Public Relations story for University of Texas
Hello, my name is Laura Freytes and I am a junior public relations major at the University of Texas in Austin. I am writing a public relations feature for a class, with the possibility of it being on the public relations web site. I was wondering if I could ask you a few questions regarding the effort made by the SMU chapter of the SCCC. Thanks for you so much time!

What do you consider to be the most successful effort made by the SMU chapter to get the word out about concealed carry on campus?


How many members are there in the SMU chapter?


How does the SMU SCCC get their organization's message out on campus?


What are your thoughts about the idea that if legislation is passed, that there is a possiblity that it will not apply to private schools?


What are possible issues do you forsee if the legislation does exclude private schools?