In response to a letter asking for clarification on state gun laws sent by State Sen. Brian Birdwell (R-Granbury), Texas Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton issued an advisory opinion on Monday stating that Texas public colleges and universities are prohibited from banning the possession of guns in dorms by Concealed Handgun License holders.

Sen. Birdwell's letter, dated Nov. 18, read, "It has been reported in the public media that some public Colleges are considering prohibiting the possession of handguns in some or all dormitories and/or other College-owned or leased residential housing. This would appear to violate the express language of [recently enacted campus carry law Senate Bill 11] that limits regulatory authority to those pertaining to 'storage' of handgun in such locations."

Courthouse News Service notes that Sen. Birdwell asked Attorney General Paxton to clarify what authority Texas public colleges have to regulate the carry of firearms in individual classrooms and dormitories, whether individual professors can ban guns from their classrooms, and what remedies an individual whose rights have been violated by a college can pursue.

[RELATED: Texas House Passes Amended Campus Carry Bill]