Students at ACU are protesting laws against carrying concealed guns on university campuses.

The Students for Concealed Carry on Campus national organization’s protest ended last week, but the students involved with the issue on campus decided to continue the peaceful protest through this week because it isn’t well known on campus.

Chris Sisk, senior accounting major from San Antonio and member of SCCC, said members and supporters wore empty holsters last week to demonstrate their desire to see laws that prohibit handguns on campus changed. Sisk and other campus members continued the protest into this week as well.

“I’m invested in this protest because college campuses in Texas do not allow students who have obtained their CHL the right to carry on campus to protect themselves or other students,” Sisk said. “Without this right, students, staff, faculty and other individuals on campus have no ability to defend themselves against any sort of violent crime. Just  because we have rules against firearms on campus and we are a Christian school doesn’t mean we are safe from the crime that perpetuates our society.”

Jamie Elswood, senior criminal justice major from San Antonio, said a shooting at another campus strengthened the organization’s stance during the protest last week.

“There was a shooting in California where seven students were slain,” Elswood said. “If just one student in the classroom had been carrying a concealed firearm, the day could have ended with no deaths and the assailant in custody.”

Ian Merriman, junior exercise science major from Lake Dallas, said a higher number of licensed carriers of handguns would lower crime rates.

“Statistics show CHL holders have a very low percentage of crime committed,” Merriman said. “Firearms are tools, not weapons.”