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HURST — After going to court to stage an "empty holster" protest, Tarrant County College student John Schwertz was getting a cool reception from most students and faculty members on the Northeast Campus.
"It has been mostly negative, but most have been willing to listen," said Schwertz, 20, of Fort Worth, as he protested for allowing licensed concealed-handgun owners to have their weapons on campus.But given last week’s shooting at Fort Hood, Schwertz said he wasn’t surprised that many students are uneasy with the concept of guns on campus — he’s just relieved that most felt he had the right to express his views."There has been no adverse reaction at all," Schwertz said. "No one was scared about the holster, which was the main thing TCC had told us they were worried about. All in all, it went well."Jan Williams, 37, of Euless watched Schwertz from a distance outside the Arts and Technology building. She said she is firmly against allowing licensed concealed-gun owners to take weapons on campus, saying guns and schools do not mix. She also had no problem with TCC placing some restrictions on his protest."He’s got the right to say what he wants, but the idea of bringing guns on campus is not a good idea," Williams said.Jessica Delmanzano, 26, of Colleyville opposed the issue but was in favor of free speech."I don’t agree with it, but he’s got the right to say it," Delmanzano said.The American Civil Liberties Union filed a lawsuit last week on behalf of Schwertz and Clayton Smith, saying TCC’s designated free-speech zones violated the students’ right of free speech. The two students are staging an "empty holster" protest this week where they wear an empty holster and hand out fliers.The temporary restraining order allows the students to protest in public areas but not in classrooms or hallways. A hearing on the lawsuit has been scheduled for Monday.TCC denied a request by Smith to stage an empty-holster protest in April and one in 2008 by student Brett Poulos on the South Campus. Poulos was told that he could protest in a designated free-speech zone but could not wear a holster around campus. A year after the April 2007 Virginia Tech massacre, in which a gunman killed 32 people and himself, students at 600 colleges nationwide wore empty holsters to protest for the right to carry concealed weapons on campus. A bill in the Texas Legislature that would have allowed licensed concealed-handgun owners to carry weapons at Texas colleges and universities failed to pass in the spring.It has been mostly negative, but most have been willing to listen. . . . There has been no adverse reaction at all. . . . All in all, it went well.
John Schwertz,20, of Fort Worth and a Tarrant County College student, of his 'empty holster’ protest at TCC on Monday
BILL HANNA, 817-390-7698
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