Texas is now in its second full week of being the 45th state to legalize open carry for individuals who have a gun license. However the new law has raised some issues, specifically how open carry will affect traditionally gun-free zones such as schools.

“The new Open Carry law should not affect school campuses all that much,” Frisco ISD Sergeant Jon Skaehill via email. “As it stands now, even if a person has an open or concealed handgun license, it is illegal for anyone, license holder or not, to carry a handgun onto any FISD premise.”

The law allows for those with handgun licenses to openly carry their gun in public, but still adheres to previous gun free zone laws for schools, courtrooms, polling places, and secured areas of airports. However, Skaehill says that the law does give parents some allowances on school campuses.

“This doesn’t include the parking lots, sidewalks etc, unless a school activity is taking place on or in that particular spot,” Skaehill said. “So a parent with an open carry license can carry a gun on his person in his car if he is in the drive through lane of a school to pick up his child, as long as it isn’t displayed in a manner calculated to cause alarm.”

School Resource Officer Jerry Varner says that the new law does not change much in terms of schools and public gun usage.

“Nothing’s changed, absolutely nothing’s changed,” Varner said. “All the no-go zones are still no-go zones. Open carry is nothing new, we are the forty-fifth state to do this. Carrying a gun openly is an inconvenience. It’s bulky, it’s awkward, and it’s uncomfortable. You won’t hardly see any difference, it’s too much of a hassle. I don’t even know why they did it.”

Along with open carry, the Texas legislature approved campus carry in May, allowing licensed concealed handgun owners to carry their concealed handguns on public university campuses. Governor Greg Abbott signed this bill into law along with open carry in June. While allowing concealed handguns to be carried on a university campus, the laws also allowed for university presidents to dictate clear gun-free zones.

“While it is not what we had hoped for, I respect the Legislature’s decision,” University of Texas System Chancellor William H. McRaven said in a statement. “I also appreciate legislators for recognizing the very specific safety considerations that are unique to campus environments.”

The action was signed into law by Abbott at a gun range and was praised by the governor for its merits.

“The right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed,” Abbott said in a statement the day he signed this bill into law. “Texans can be assured that their Second Amendment rights will be stronger and more secure than ever before.”