Carry in a public university vehicle?

[WundreLlama]

When I took my CHL class, our instructor told us that it was perfectly legal to carry on campus as long as you don't enter any buildings. I have also heard the same from one of the Texas A&M UPD patrol officers. I think the reasoning behind this comes from PC 46.03 (a) (1) which says weapons are prohibited "on the physical premises of a school or educational instution..." and PC 46.05 (f) (3) which says "'Premises' means a building or a portion of a building. The term does not include any public or private driveway, street, sidewalk or walkway, parking lot, parking garage, or other parking area."

Now, my question is this: Can we carry while in a university owned vehicle? In geology, we regularly take 15 passenger vans around the state and country for field courses and research. I think this is a gray area because as far as I know, because your are in a vehicle on a public/private street, but then again, you are enclosed in a university owned "thing" which might be able to be considered a portable building...

Any ideas? I left a message for the Texas DPS Regulator Licensing Service, so hopefully they'll get back to me soon... I'm heading out of town soon (on one of those geology trips) but when I hear from them, I'll let y'all know when I can.

Cheers!

[aardwolf]

§ 46.03. PLACES WEAPONS PROHIBITED. (a) A person
commits an offense if the person intentionally, knowingly, or
recklessly possesses or goes with a firearm, illegal knife, club,
or prohibited weapon listed in Section 46.05(a):
(1) on the physical premises of a school or
educational institution, any grounds or building on which an
activity sponsored by a school or educational institution is being
conducted, or a passenger transportation vehicle of a school or
educational institution, whether the school or educational
institution is public or private, unless pursuant to written
regulations or written authorization of the institution;

[WundreLlama]

Good call! I feel like an idiot for missing that because it was right in front of me... Thanks!