The debate over gun control legislation took an interesting turn at the University of Texas, when more than 5,800 people signed up online to attend a protest planned for next year in opposition to a law signed by Texas Governor Greg Abbot that allows for the carrying of concealed weapons on college campuses. Beginning next summer, students plan to come to class on August 24, 2016, armed. But not with firearms … instead, they’ll be wielding sex toys.
Organizers say that carrying dildos to class illustrates the hypocrisy of the new law – while a student carrying a plastic penis to class would be subject to disciplinary action, another student may attend class carrying a concealed automatic weapon without even a chance of reprimand.
On a web page devoted to the protest, organizers call on students and other followers to take up the rallying cry, on Twitter and elsewhere: #CocksNotGlocks. They further explain the nature of their protest,
“The State of Texas has decided that it is not at all obnoxious to allow deadly concealed weapons in classrooms, however it DOES have strict rules about free sexual expression, to protect your innocence. You would receive a citation for taking a DILDO to class before you would get in trouble for taking a gun to class. Heaven forbid the penis.”
University of Texas alumna Jessica Jin, who originated the protest, told the Houston Chronicle that, though there’s been an abundance of positive reaction online, there’s been almost an equal amount of opposition:
“It has been absolutely fascinating that some folks seemingly feel threatened or angered at the thought of people carrying dildos around with them. They’re incredibly offended! So much outrage! They’re calling for my head.”
When the Governor signed bills HB 910 and SB 11 in June, it was the latter that allowed for “campus carry” on public universities, with a goal to, according to Abbot’s office of “expand Texan’s second amendment rights.” Private universities are still free to set their own, less insane rules. Opposition on the campus, located in the relatively liberal enclave of state capital Austin, was immediate and ferocious: more than 160 professors added their names to a letter protesting the law, one even going so far as to resign as protest. Jin understands that the bizarre nature of the protest will offend many, titillate others and simply just seem odd to some.
“I need this proliferation of dildos to offer people a visual representation of what it would be like if we all carried guns,” she says. “It should look ridiculous to you. That is the point. This is America. If guns and bloodshed don’t wake people up, a public celebration of sexuality may just do the trick.”
Though the normal brandishing of dildos would be considered actionable on campus, UT Austin’s director of communications, Gary Susswein, said there were currently no plans to interfere with or punish students who decide to participate.
“We would classify it as a political protest. Students have a right to free speech, like all Texas citizens,”
And added that the university is still figuring out how to comply with the law while still ensuring the safety of their student population. But it seems like a very hard thing to do, ensure saftey – especially when you are inviting anyone crazy enough to carry a gun on them to bring it into our schools … and if you somehow believe that is going to decrease gun violence, then you are potently dull-witted.