UT Professor to Quit Because of Campus Carry Law

Emeritus Daniel S. Hamermesh says he fears for his safety on campus because of the new concealed carry law.
Published: October 12, 2015

A professor at the University of Texas says the state’s new campus carry law is playing a part in his decision to retire.

Emeritus Daniel S. Hamermesh, a tenured professor of Microeconomics, says the so-called “concealed carry” law passed in Texas earlier this year makes him fear for his safety on the school’s campus, according to mystatesman.com.

Hamermesh, who has taught at UT for over 20 years, said his classes are too large to tell if a student has become upset or is mentally ill. UT’s introductory microeconomics class is a requirement for economic and business majors and typically has 475 students enrolled each term.

Hamermesh officially retired last year but had agreed to teach his course through 2017. He said he also had a chance to work at international universities and the concealed carry law was only part of the reason he was retiring.

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Under the concealed carry law, which was signed by Texas Governor Greg Abbott June 13, people with concealed handgun licenses can bring guns onto certain parts of public college campuses in the state. Because the law doesn’t go into effect until next August, schools have a year to designate certain parts of campus “gun free zones.” The law does not allow entire campuses to be deemed gun free zones.

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