VOA常速英语:Texas Campus Gun Law Draws Mixed Reactions(翻译)

At the University of Houston, a state-supported school,students returning for the fall semester are mostly unconcerned by the factthat some among them might be carrying a concealed handgun.

“I am pretty indifferent about it,” Rajwani said.“It is not like I think ‘Oh, God, I am going to be shot on campus!’I don’t feel that in any way.I don’t really feel any change at all.”

Some students worry about the potential problem of having guns on campus,while others think properly licensed, armed students could prevent crimes.

“The university is a stressful place, and you know, people are not always mentally stable, and,with weapons involved, it is just a recipe for disaster.” Allie said.But Thomas Wanko said,

“I feel safer on campus knowing there are people who have applied for the license and are legally able to carry a weapon.I feel safer in case anything happens.”

The University of Houston Police Department has posted information on policy and procedures online,but otherwise the university is remaining low key on the issue.

At the University of Houston-Downtown,political science professor David Branham says many colleagues worry about gun-holding students in emotionally charge situations.

“What they are worried about is the student who is on academic probation,who is getting an ‘F’ in your class and they want you to change the grade,and you are refusing to change the grade because it would not be fair to the rest of the students,and all of a sudden a gun becomes part of that equation," he said."I think that is what professors are worried about.”

The strongest opposition to the campus-carry policy is at the University of Texas in Austin,which was the scene of the first mass shooting on a U.S. campus 50 years ago.

Sabine Wakim, who teaches debate at the university,says both pro- and anti-gun people want to prevent such shooting gaffes.But they need to address each other’s fears to find solution.

“If we can understand where each one of these sides is coming from,we can have better conversations about how to effectively protect ourselvesbut also stop these things from happening in the first place,” she said.

Unlike the University of Taxes and the University of Houston,5 universities are not obligated to allow armed students on campus and all of them have chosen not to.