Austin, August 2 (RHC)-- The U.S. state of Texas has made it legal to carry guns on university campuses, a controversial decision also made by seven other states so far. Ironically, the decision was made on the 50th anniversary of a deadly campus sniper rampage at the University of Texas at Austin in 1966 that claimed 14 lives.

The law allows students at each public university to have concealed weapons even in classrooms if older than 21 years. However, it leaves it up to the universities to decide where on campus the weapons are permitted. Private universities are exempt from the new law that is now in effect.

Other states that have so far allowed concealed guns on campus include Colorado, Idaho, Kansas, Mississippi, Oregon, Utah and Wisconsin. Eighteen U.S. states specifically ban the practice.

Critics of the law believe it is an ill-conceived solution that could trigger even more violence. Three UT Austin professors believe that their free speech rights would be violated since students with guns would create a fearful atmosphere and stifle the open expression of ideas. In an opinion piece published last week in the Dallas Morning News, Seema Yasmin, who teaches at a public university in Dallas, said: "I'm not scared of guns. I'm scared of this combination: term exam stress, undiagnosed mental illness and the ability to carry guns in university buildings."