A federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by three UT Austin professors who wanted to overturn the state's 2015 campus carry law. The law allows people to carry concealed handguns inside most public university buildings.
The professors had argued that the presence of guns in a classroom might make some hesitant to discuss controversial topics. As expected, a federal court Thursday tossed the case out. District Judge Lee Yeakel wrote in his decision that the professors — failed to offer any concrete evidence to substantiate their fears" that campus carry would threaten free speech.
But Renea Hicks, the attorney representing the professors, said the question is not resolved. Hicks told the Texas Tribune that Yeakel’s dismissal only addressed First Amendment legal issues. The suit also has a Second Amendment component regarding equal protection that Yeakel did not addressed.