Campus concealed carry bill advances in Missouri House

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Concealed carry would be allowed on college campuses under a bill that has won first-round approval in the Missouri House of Representatives.

The measure was added to a bill that would allow some faculty and staff to carry weapons as designated campus security officers, the Columbia Missourian reports. The amended bill advanced Tuesday with a 98-42 vote.

Supporters say it would help people protect themselves from threats and sexual assault. The bill's sponsor, Republican state Rep. Jered Taylor, of Republic, says sexual assaults on college campuses are increasing.

But Democratic state Rep. Tracy McCreery, of St. Louis, argued the bill wouldn't make campuses safer. She took issue with the idea that women would have guns with them for protection from sexual assault, arguing that most rapes are committed by acquaintances, not strangers.

During a March 6 hearing in the House General Laws Committee, representatives from multiple law enforcement agencies, including several from colleges and universities, said they oppose the bill.

Lincoln University Police Chief Gary Hill testified that campuses would be less safe if young adults were allowed to carry guns there.

Hill said he could not speak with certainty that allowing people to carry concealed weapons on campus would further reduce an already-falling crime rate there. But he would worry about safety if firearms are introduced to campuses. Additionally, he argued that if there were an active-shooter situation on campus and people were trying to protect themselves with firearms, there would be confusion and someone trying to protect himself might accidentally get shot.

It has happened elsewhere, he said.

And the students do not want the weapons on campus, he said.

Hill's stance was supported in the March hearing by scores of people led by members of Moms Demand Action For Gun Sense in America. Hundreds of members of the group attend the General Assembly every year to lobby against legislation they say is unsafe.

This is the third consecutive year Taylor's bill has been considered in the House.