Concealed Carry (Also Known as Campus Carry)

No. State law bans concealed handguns on elementary, middle and high school campuses. However, the law does not extend to college campuses; and Senate Bill 11, which allows concealed carry on college campuses, does not provide an exception for those college campuses that are home to dual credit and early college high school programs.

Yes. The Concealed Carry law authorizes LTC holders to carry concealed handguns on the campuses of Texas colleges and universities. A handgun is a pistol, revolver or other firearm for which the length of the barrel, which, not including any revolving, detachable or magazine breech, does not exceed 12 inches.

It does not authorize the concealed carry of other weapons, including rifles or shotguns; these items remain prohibited by law and district policy.

Proceed with caution. Under Texas law, an individual is only required to disclose such information to a peace officer. A peace officer is authorized to ask to see a LTC or to disarm an individual temporarily, but there is no law requiring an individual to disclose to a college official whether he or she has a valid license. While, there is no prohibition against it, asking to verify a visitor's license to carry can give rise to a contentious situation and should be avoided.

No. The act of carrying a concealed handgun is not in and of itself a disruption, nor is the adverse reaction of another to the act of a person carrying a concealed handgun grounds to eject the LTC holder from class.

No. LTC holders from other states must comply with Texas laws regarding carrying a concealed handgun, including age restrictions. In Texas, you must be 21 years old to obtain a concealed handgun license.

No. The Concealed Carry law allows colleges and universities to consult with students, faculty and staff to establish reasonable rules or regulations addressing concealed carry on campus. However, those rules and regulations may not generally prohibit or have the effect of generally prohibiting licensed concealed carry on campus. This means that colleges and universities cannot prohibit LTC holders from carrying concealed handguns everywhere on campus, as that would be a violation of law. As a reminder, open carry of a handgun is prohibited on all Texas college and university campuses.

Yes. Third-party vendors operating in buildings owned by Dallas College are subject to college policies and procedures, including those relating to concealed carry.

Exclusion zones are those areas on campus where the concealed carry of handguns is prohibited. Colleges and universities must post signage at all places and events where policy or law prohibits the carrying of concealed handguns.

Senate Bill 11 and 46.03 of the penal code refer to "buildings leased or owned." Therefore, if the college is leasing property from an entity, that property is considered the property of the college, for the purpose of concealed carry, and is subject to college rules and regulations relating to concealed carry.

No. According to the National Conference of State Legislators (NCSL), Texas is one of ten states (CO, GA, ID, KS, MS, OR, TN, UT, and WI) allowing the carry of concealed weapons on public postsecondary campuses.

Not necessarily. An LTC holder must conceal his or her handgun in order to lawfully carry on campus. However, if, for example, an LTC holder carrying a handgun inadvertently reveals his or her handgun in the act of raising his arm to ask a question, it is not necessarily a violation. A violation occurs when a person intentionally displays a handgun in plain view of another person.

No. Texas law prohibits the open carry of all firearms, including handguns, by individuals other than law enforcement officers on the campuses of higher education institutions. Individuals who are LTC holders must keep the handgun out of view (concealed) when carrying the handgun in locations on campus where concealed carry is permitted by the institution’s rules or regulations.

Before Jan. 1, 2016, Texas prohibited open carry of firearms. During the 84^th legislative session, the Texas Legislature modified this prohibition to allow individuals possessing a license to carry (LTC) to carry a handgun, whether or not it is concealed, in plain or partial view and in a public place if the handgun is carried in a shoulder or belt holster. Open carry is not allowed on the campus of any Texas public colleges or universities, including on any public or private driveway, street, sidewalk or walkway, parking lot, parking garage or other parking area of the institution.

Senate Bill 11, also known as the Campus Carry or Concealed Carry law, went into effect for four-year colleges and universities in August 2016 and took effect for two-year institutions August 2017. Concealed Carry authorizes an LTC holder to carry a concealed handgun on or about her person on the campus of a college or university in Texas, subject to reasonable rules and regulations adopted by the institution.  

An LTC holder who intentionally displays a handgun or enters into a gun-free or exclusion zone commits a Class A misdemeanor, punishable by up to one year in jail and a $4,000 fine.

Educational activities can be broad in scope, including, but not limited to, activities held in outdoor areas.

If you see someone openly carrying a handgun on campus, contact the college Police Department or local law enforcement. Do not attempt to verify whether the person has a valid license to carry or to disarm the individual, unless you are so authorized.

Texas law does not expressly state what qualifies as a "concealed handgun" or where a handgun needs to be in order to be "concealed." A handgun carried by an LTC holder must not be in plain view or visible by ordinary observation. Further, the handgun must be on or about the LTC holder's person or in close proximity (as to be readily accessible).

Only an individual with a license to carry may carry a concealed handgun on a Texas public college or university campus. To obtain an LTC, a person must meet state and federal requirements and receive appropriate training from an LTC instructor certified by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Only the Dallas College Chancellor, or the Chancellor’s authorized designee, may establish handgun exclusion zones by regulations recommended to and adopted by the Dallas College Board of Trustees. Designation of an area as an exclusion zone must be reasonable and follow the rules and regulations recommended by the Chancellor and be approved by the Board of Trustees.  

The College Concealed Carry Committee worked in collaboration with Concealed Carry Committees at each of the campuses to gather input and information from students, faculty and staff. That provided the basis for rules and regulations that were recommended by the chancellor for consideration and adoption by the college Board of Trustees.

It depends. In June 2016, Attorney General Paxton was asked to consider whether community colleges could ban the carrying of concealed handguns in classrooms or other areas where minors attend class or are routinely present. In response, the Attorney General issued an opinion stating a community college may not adopt a blanket ban of concealed handguns simply because minors may be in attendance, but may ban concealed handguns in specific classrooms and campus areas where there may be a congregation of minors, as well as specific classrooms where child-care services are provided.

Under the Dallas College campus carry policy, concealed handguns are not allowed in those locations of a Dallas College campus where Pre-K-12 programs and activities, including classroom instruction, are conducted, but may be allowed in other campus locations. This means that dual credit and early college high school students may be in areas of a Dallas College campus, including some classrooms, where a license holder carrying a concealed handgun may also be present. To the extent an area or location of a Dallas College campus serves Pre-K-12 students exclusively, it will be marked as an exclusion zone.

No. In accordance with Texas law, which prohibits certain weapons on the premises of child-care centers, concealed carry by LTC holders will be prohibited in all DCCCD licensed child-care centers.

No. The college will not track individuals with an LTC.

No. Senate Bill 11 does not require institutions of higher education to provide storage for firearms. Providing storage for handguns increases the time and frequency spent handling the firearm, thus increasing the risk of accidental discharges, ability for others to identify license to carry holders, and the possibility of theft of firearms — as storage locations would be generally well-known. Existing lockers, cabinets, closets and furnishings are the property of the college and were not designed to safely secure firearms.

No. Dallas College will not compile, maintain or publish a list of LTC holders. Information on LTC holders is confidential by law.