USA: Gun violence: Texas University allows guns in classes

In a setback for US President Barack Obama’s gun control measures, the University of Texas in Austin has allowed for the students to carry guns into classrooms.

Concealed handguns will be allowed in University of Texas classes but generally banned from dorms under new rules.

The University president, angered by the decision, described it as the greatest challenge of his presidency to date.

Greg Fenves opposes allowing guns on the roughly 50,000-student campus. Texas universities had been gun-free zones under the state's previous concealed handgun laws, but the Republican-dominated Legislature voted last year to force public universities to allow license holders to bring their guns to campus starting August 1.

"I do not believe handguns belong on a university campus, so this decision has been the greatest challenge of my presidency to date," Fenves said.

Fenves, however, noted that he has an obligation to uphold the law. He further expressed solidarity with many faculty members, staffers, students, and their families who called for a ban on guns from the campus.

The so-called "campus carry" measure has met with fierce resistance from students, faculty and other staff.

Critics have predicted that allowing guns on campus will make it harder for schools to recruit top students and faculty.

Note EU-Digest: European and other foreign students planning University studies at Texas University better think twice.

Read more: PressTV-Texas University allows guns in classes

USA: Obama on the offensive against uncooperative Republicans

President Obama today warned Republicans against refusing to raise the nation’s debt ceiling, calling such talk “irresponsible” and “absurd” and saying it would set off an economic crisis and financial hardship. 

“They will not collect a ransom in exchange for not crashing the American economy,” Mr. Obama said during his final news conference of his first term in office. “The full faith and credit of the United States of America is not a bargaining chip.” 

The president repeated his vow to seek what he called a “balanced” approach to reduce the nation’s deficit during the months ahead. But he said he would not negotiate on the debt ceiling, and he said Republicans in Congress would be responsible for the effects of a refusal to raise it. 

“It would be a self-inflicted wound on the economy,” Mr. Obama said. “It would slow down our growth and tip us into recession. To even entertain the idea of this happening is irresponsible. It’s absurd.” He added: “America cannot afford another debate with this Congress about whether or not they should pay the bills they’ve already racked up.”

In today's speech which was originally around the coming fight around the debt ceiling, President Obama also said that lawful and responsible gun owners have little to fear. No specifics were given about what sort of legislation would be proposed but the tone was less strict and less pointed than in prior speeches.

Again, some form of gun control is coming. Likely it is around longer universal registrations, closing of gun-show loopholes, and limiting high-capacity magazine sales. That being said, what will be proposed remains to be seen and most of the public likely expects that whatever is proposed is something that has better than a decent chance of being passed in Congress.

Unfortunately the potential victim in this game of chicken over the debt ceiling would be The American Public. And it would be done ostensibly by the hands of Republicans. That will be the perception at least.

EU-Digest