SAN MARCOS, Texas -- Violence on college campuses are still a growing concern among students, but some students are hoping to take protection into their own hands.

Mike Guzman, a senior at Texas State University-San Marcos, is among 30,000 members of Students For Concealed Carry on Campus, a group dedicated to a nationwide effort to make it legal for students to carry concealed handguns on campus.

"It's a tool that we're allowed to use across the street in larger society, so why not on campus?" Guzman said.

According to state law, concealed handguns may not be carried at various places including schools, polling places, courts, according to the Concealed Handgun Statute (PDF) as provided by the Texas Department of Public Safety.

"It's almost offensive that I can carry a firearm every single day when I'm in the Marine Corps, and yet, when I come on campus, I can't be trusted," Guzman said.

The SCCC formed in response to the Apr. 16, 2007, shooting at Virginia Tech University that claimed 33 lives, including that of the shooter. Virginia Tech had a brief scare early Thursday afternoon as a nail gun cartridge produced similar sounds to gunfire, prompting warnings and news alerts across campus, according to The Associated Press.

The group advocates that states allow people with concealed handgun licences to carry their firearms on college campuses in an effort to prevent additional carnage from a potential threat and to help deter any future attacks. Guzman said allowing law-abiding students with concealed carrying licenses would also reduce other campus crimes such as burglaries and sexual assaults.

"I don't know. That kind of scares me," Texas State freshman Rachel Yon said. "I wouldn't go for that."

Guzman is also the administrator of a Texas State Facebook group advocating the allowance of concealed handguns on campus. That group has 188 members as of Nov. 13. Conversly, a Texas State Facebook group against allowing concealed handguns on campus has 540 members as of the same date.

"I believe it would be a bad idea," Texas State senior Adam Cervantez said.

Guzman testified before the Texas House Law Enforcement Committee in June, and now has State Rep. Joe Driver, R-Garland, -- chair of the Law Enforcement Committee -- and State Sen. Jeff Wentworth, R-San Antonio, crafting bills for consideration.

Utah is currently the only state that allows concealed handguns to be carried on campus.