Mo. Gov. Nixon opposes guns in school

Monday, December 24, 2012

By DAVID A. LIEB

Associated Press

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) — Gov. Jay Nixon expressed opposition Monday to legislation that would let Missouri teachers carry concealed guns into classrooms, describing it as “the wrong approach” after the recent deadly shootings at a Connecticut elementary school.

Nixon said in a publicly released letter to school superintendents that he has “serious concerns” about the legislation, which already has more than two dozen sponsors in the Missouri House.

“More can and should be done to enhance school safety, but this legislation would put our children at risk and limit the ability of local school districts to keep their schools safe,” Nixon said. “Putting loaded weapons in classrooms is quite simply the wrong approach to a serious issue that demands careful analysis and thoughtful solutions.”

Officials from across the country are considering potential policy changes after 20-year-old Adam Lanza, armed with an assault-style rifle, killed 20 students and six adults at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut on Dec. 14. Some congressional Democrats want to reinstate a federal ban on the sale of assault weapons. Last week, the National Rifle Association proposed placing trained, armed volunteers in schools to help guard children.

Missouri law currently allows concealed guns to be carried by people age 21 and older who have no felony convictions, are not mentally incompetent and pass a firearms training course and a background check. But state law prohibits concealed guns from being brought into schools unless approved by the local school board or a school official.

Paul Fennewald, a former Missouri homeland security director who now is an adviser to the Missouri Center for Education Safety, has said he is unaware of any school districts in Missouri that allow concealed guns. The center is a public-private partnership between the state Department of Public Safety and the Missouri School Boards’ Association.

Legislation filed last week by Rep. Mike Kelley, R-Lamar, would let teachers and administrators with concealed gun permits bring their weapons to school without need of local approval. It has the support of several top lawmakers, including House Speaker Tim Jones, R-Eureka, and Majority Leader John Diehl, R-Town and Country.

State Rep. Stanley Cox, R-Sedalia, has suggested that people might think twice about attacking schools if they knew teachers or administrators could be carrying guns.

Nixon described the current law allowing school boards to bar guns in classrooms as “a time-tested and solid foundation that we should reinforce, not undermine.”

The Missouri School Boards’ Association also objected to the legislation.

“We think that a school board ought to be able to set policies on which employees should be able to carry weapons, just as any other employer would in the private sector,” said association spokesman Brent Ghan.

More like this story

BillyJoeRayBob 5 months ago

I can think of at least six teachers and administrators in Newtown that, at least for a fleeting moment, wished they had a concealed weapon to have at least a chance protect themselves and the students. How many lives might have been saved that day? They have given pilots the choice whether to arm themselves; why not give teachers and administrators the same choice. No one needs to know whether they are armed until something bad starts to happen. But the chance they are would be enough of a deterrent for most people. Just saying. Happy Holidays !!

BillyJoeRayBob 5 months ago

In an emergency, you are only going to have a couple seconds at most to protect yourself; not enough time to go get something from a secured location. I personally prefer the idea of a uniformed or plain clothes police officer, referred to as School Resource Officers, in each school. Many already have them and they are a great interface with the kids to see the positive side of law enforcement. They help the teachers and administrators with thefts, fights, abuse, etc.

spelchek 5 months ago

I oppose guns in schools too. Especially the crazies that don't follow any current law that says they shouldn't in the first place. Drastic times call for drastic measures, this no time for wanting a point on the political scoreboard.

herekitty 5 months ago

I agree with Graceful 100%! Our children Must be protected.

connor 5 months ago

Perhaps we should weed out the Social Engineering from our educational organizations and keep their Liberal/Feminist noses out of the mental illness, racial uplifting and gender outreach business as well. If we do that, maybe just maybe, violence will not then be imported back into the schools or explode from those who have been pushed to the edge.

I recommend a re-viewing of "Heathers" is in order here and let the line about the schools being a reflection of our society as a whole sink in a bit.

But no those responsible for the failed ideologies will simply blame guns, video games and psychological disorders. Their Feminist/Liberal religion refuses them to look at the truth.

gsbcmo 5 months ago

At some locations, QT convenience stores provide an office space for use by police officers. They utilize them as a place for to do paper work.

Why not provide space at each school for p o's to do the same, there by providing a constant rotating police presence at schools. Win - Win. The constant turnover of black and whites would be a good deterrent.

sancho 5 months ago

I appreciate the Governor's position on this issue and I agree with him.

The proposal to allow school personnel to be armed is a frantic reaction to a serious problem that has many challenges. We need to do better.

But on another note, I wish all of the posters on the NT forum a wonderful Christmas and New Year. We are all blessed to be here, to celebrate Christmas.

The Mayans were wrong. We have the ability to solve the serious problems we are faced with, and there you are.

orieke 5 months ago

Kudos to Gov Nixon. Remember the history of the second amendment. A group of colonialists farmers led by George Washington had just defeated the world's mightiest military (British), so the 2d amendment (passed in 1791) sought to protect us from any future tyrannical government. It simply states: “A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the People to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed”. That’s it. It has totally outlived its usefulness and meaning. Could these same NRA people defend themselves against the nuclear bombs in today's world? Do you hunt with pistols or automatic assault weapons? I think not. Prostitution of the 2d amendment wording should end. Maybe pistol packers’ incarceration for local prostitution statues (prostitution of 2d amendment intent) are in order. Where are the pro-life people on this? Here’s one, and I'm incoherent with sadness. Can't we all just get along??

BillyJoeRayBob 5 months ago

In other words, make criminals out of law abiding citizens for exercising their second amendment rights to keep and bear arms. Then we can go after those pesky first amendment supporters. And maybe after that start working on the fifth amendment.

spelchek 4 months, 4 weeks ago

Your ideologies are dangerous (because I say so), thus, you do not need an internet connection and a keyboard (free speech) to spread your ignorance of firearms. Careful what you wish for. In the meantime, please put a sign in your front yard letting the public know your stance on firearms, otherwise you'd look like a hypocrite.

BillyJoeRayBob 4 months, 4 weeks ago

I've never heard anyone calling someone's ideology that the U.S. Constitution grants citizens certain unalienable rights dangerous, except when we are referring to an enemy. People like you that would take away those rights without due process might be dangerous. I see you skipped ripping out a portion of the 2nd Amendment and went right to wanting to take away someone else's 1st Amendment rights just because they don't agree with your warped sense of what's right or wrong. My stance on firearms is very clear to anyone who knows me personally or would have cause to come near my front lawn and I have an above average knowledge of the pros and cons of gun control (because I said so). So slither back to where you came from and we will let you off with a public admonishment this time.

BillyJoeRayBob 4 months, 4 weeks ago

On second reading, I think you are right and spelchek was not replying to my post .. I apologize for my over zealous response.

JCLifer 4 months, 4 weeks ago

Poor schoolkids are just sitting ducks waiting to be plinked off by the next crazy.

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