The student government at Texas State University-San Marcos voted earlier this month by a narrow margin to hold a referendum which would have allowed students to vote on whether concealed guns should be allowed in campus buildings.

The referendum was vetoed Monday by Associated Student Government President Reagan Pugh, who told the campus newspaper, The University Star, he did not feel comfortable allowing a referendum to be held on an issue where state law is in conflict. The issue was first raised in Nov. 2007, when members of student government proposed a resolution to allow concealed firearms on campus, which was consequently rejected because the wording involved defying current state law. The university stated in a press release it would not support allowing students to carry concealed guns on campus.

Texas law prevents anyone from carrying concealed firearms on campuses or to college sporting events. In order to be eligible for a license to carry a concealed firearm, the applicant must be at least 21 years old, not convicted of a felony or charge with a class A or B misdemeanor, not chemically dependent and fully eligible to purchase a weapon, among other stipulations.

Groups such as Students for Concealed Carry on Campus have organized supporters — which now count more than 22,000 members as of Monday — at universities nationwide, including Texas State. Michael Guzman, economics junior at Texas State, is the Southwest Regional Director for Students for Concealed Carry on Campus and has made various appearances on network television in support of guns on campus.

Opponents of allowing concealed weapons on campus have stated it would only increase the likelihood of more massacres such as those at Northern Illinois University and Virginia Tech. Some have also said it would produce a chilling effect for those who vocalize controversial views.