College campuses are communities within communities where lawbreaking is usually limited to overtime parking, underage drinking, and the occasional theft or assault.
But far too often, a madman has turned a seat of learning into a killing ground.
It happened at the University of Texas in 1966, recently at Northern Illinois and the worst in country history, Virginia Tech.
"It was a normal 9 a.m. French class,” Colin Goddard, a victim of the Virginia Tech massacre, said. “We heard loud banging noises come up from outside our door, we didn't even know what it was. Then it got much louder and much closer. Once the bullets started coming through our door, every student hit the floor. The situation was so crazy, the most stressful in my whole life. I didn't really understand what was going on till I was hit the first time above my leg. At that point, I realized someone's trying to kill me."
Goddard was one of the 49 victims in the Virginia Tech massacre. He left that morning French class with three bullet wounds.
Four years later, on the steps of the Texas capitol Thursday, Goddard spoke for the 32 victims who lost their lives that horrific day.
In an already controversial legislative session, lawmakers in both the House and Senate have proposed bills to allow loaded guns on Texas campuses if the owner has a concealed handgun license.
"People need to be able to protect themselves no matter where they are and this bill allows that," Republican state representative John Frullo said.
The need for protection does not come suddenly.
The last three years have seen fatal shootings at Northern Illinois Univeristy, Virginia Tech and an incident at the University of Texas last September that ended with the shooter only killing himself.
Seven other state legislatures are considering similar bills..
However, Goddard said while he understands the worry, he disagrees with placing guns in students' hands because it could cause dangerous crossfire.
"So many people have told me if they were with me that day in that class, they would have saved the lives of students around me,” Goddard said. “That almost offends me. They tell me, so sure in their minds, how they would have reacted in the most stressful situation of their lives. It's absurd."
With the fear of the Virginia Tech massacre and the University of Texas shooting last fall, Texas Tech students said guns have no place in their backpacks.
"You give someone a privilege or a little leeway, they'll take it too far,” Marlon Williams, a former Texas Tech football player, said. “Just looking at things in the past where guns on campus were not a good turnout."
“It’s a little bit scary just because I think a lot could go wrong,” Riley Tillman said.
Goddard said others measures can be taken to ensure safety on campuses that do not include the possibility of crossfire.
"Perhaps a lock on the door, perhaps a notification system,” Goddard explained. “There are many other ways to prevent tragedies like this before giving guns to kids to shoot bad kids."
The Texas legislation is set to fire its decision on the proposed bills later this spring.
