After making its way through the Texas House, the Senate Criminal Justice Committee approved a bill that allows students and faculty to carry a handgun to class.
Sen. John Whitmire, D-Houston, the chair of the committee, told those registered to speak against the campus-carry bill that if this version of the bill didn't make it out of his committee, lawmakers will likely find a way to pass a similar campus-carry bill at another time.
"We have to make hard decisions and I’ll bet you a Coke that we are going to have a special session. If you are successful in defeating this [now] you are going to get the stronger version [later] and it will become law. Remember I advised you on that," Whitmire said.
Whitmire was referring to a Senate bill that could be available for debate during a special session.
The House bill that was being debated in this particular hearing has a provision that would allow a local college to opt out and continue the prohibition of guns on campus - the Senate bill does not.
Whitmire actually voted against the campus-carry bill during the committee hearing and has plans to defeat it on the Senate floor - he also voted against the Senate version.
