The Texas Tribune The controversial Texas law allowing students to bring guns into classrooms is facing another showdown as a lawsuit challenging the law heads to federal appeals court on Wednesday. Two years ago, three University of Texas at Austin professors Jennifer Lynn Glass, Lisa Moore and Mia Carter filed a lawsuit against state Attorney General Ken Paxton and several leaders of the UT System over a 2015 law that allows concealed handguns on college campuses. The professors argued the law infringed their First Amendment right to academic freedom, saying a "chilling effect" pervades their classes when students can bring guns into the room. The law went into effect in August 2016 and was immediately met with stiff backlash on campuses, particularly at UT-Austin. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, sought to block the law and allow the professors to prohibit firearms in their classrooms. A federal judge turned down the request and dismissed the case last year, sayingthe professors failed to provide evidence that guns infringe on the professors’ free speech or that they have the authority to nullify state law in their classrooms. Shortly after the decision, Paxton wrote that the "fact that a small group of professors dislike a law and speculate about a chilling effect is hardly a valid basis to set the law aside." The suit then went to the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans, which will hear arguments at Wednesday’s session. The law allows licensed handgun owners to bring […]

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Shelby Knowles/Via The Texas Tribune University of Texas at Austin faculty and students protest a law allowing people with concealed handgun licenses to enter campus buildings with their firearms. A lawsuit challenging the policy is headed to federal appeals court on Wednesday. The controversial Texas law allowing students to bring guns into classrooms is facing another showdown as a lawsuit challenging the law heads to federal appeals court on Wednesday. Two years ago, three University of Texas at Austin professors — Jennifer Lynn Glass, Lisa Moore and Mia Carter — filed a lawsuit against state Attorney General Ken Paxton and several leaders of the UT System over a 2015 law that allows concealed handguns on college campuses. The professors argued the law infringed their First Amendment right to academic freedom, saying a “chilling effect” pervades their classes when students can bring guns into the room. The law went into effect in August 2016 and was immediately met with stiff backlash on campuses, particularly at UT-Austin. The lawsuit, filed in federal court, sought to block the law and allow the professors to prohibit firearms in their classrooms. A federal judge turned down the request and dismissed the case last year, saying the professors failed to provide evidence that guns infringe on the professors’ free speech or that they have the authority to nullify state law in their classrooms. Shortly after the decision, Paxton wrote that the “fact that a small group of professors dislike a law and speculate about a […]

Click here to view original web page at Guns Chill Free Speech, UT-Austin Professors Will Argue At Federal Appeals Court

windsword

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