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Keep guns off campus, conservatives! Where are your values?

Angry, white, gun-totin' right-wingers who crashed a pro-Palestine rally, standing up for their human rights, will be charged. UT stands firm against this racist behavior.

Published May 3, 2024 at 7:43pm by Bayliss Wagner

UT plans to file felony gun charge in connection to Monday's protest

The University of Texas Police Department (UTPD) has announced its intention to file "at least one" felony gun charge in relation to the pro-Palestinian protest on campus this Monday, a response that many are calling excessive and hypocritical, given the state's lenient gun laws.

"County Attorney Garza is not aware of this case because the charge pursued is a third-degree felony. UTPD has been in touch with the Travis County DA's office." - Mike Rosen, University Spokesperson.

This statement comes as a supposedly clarifying remark after Travis County Attorney, Delia Garza, expressed concern over the lack of weapons charges seen by her office. It is important to note that according to campus policy, fully visible carry is prohibited.

Despite the arrest of 79 individuals, only one additional charge of obstructing a highway has been made, indicating a potential overreaction by the UTPD, particularly given their claim that they confiscated "buckets of large rocks, bricks, and steel-enforced wood planks."

Furthermore, Brian Davis, a UTPD spokesperson, has refused to comment on whether the individuals accused of possessing guns pose a continued threat, raising questions about the transparency of the investigation and the timing of this sudden announcement.

This is an upsetting development, particularly in light of the recent withdrawal of a felony assault charge against a photojournalist, Carlos Sanchez, who was covering the protest. Sanchez now faces misdemeanor charges, highlighting a disturbing trend of targeting certain individuals while downplaying the actions of potentially violent offenders.

We will update this story as more information becomes available.

References:

https://www.utexas.edu/campus-carry - UT Campus Carry Policy
https://secure4.compliancebridge.com/utexas/public/getdoc.php?file=8-1060 - UT Campus Gun Policy
https://www.kut.org/crime-justice/2024-05-02/ut-says-pro-palestinian-demonstrators-carried-guns-and-assaulted-people-prosecutors-beg-to-differ - Travis County Attorney Delia Garza's Statement
https://www.texastribune.org/2022/05/06/texas-campus-carry-gun-law-explainer/ - Texas Campus Carry Law (2015)