Gun concealment bill dead, discussion alive

By Guest Columnist

You’re sitting in class one day, look over at the student next you and see a gun in his inside jacket pocket. Is that a reality today? No, but it may be someday and that someday may be sooner than later. In April of 2009, the Missouri House of Representatives passed an amendment to the conceal—and—carry bill. HB668 would allow people who have conceal—and–carry permits to carry their guns on campus. House bill HB668 passed in the house. The conceal—and—carry bill was never voted on in the senate, so the bill died. The bill has not been brought back up, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be.

If you look around Missouri Western’s campus you don’t see any signs posted no guns allowed like you do at other sate institutions. Chief of Police Jon Kelley said, “The existing Missouri Law on carry concealed prohibits concealed carry on campus whether there are signs in place or not.” Kelley is not the only chief of police faced with these problems.

There are 26 states that have it written that a person cannot conceal carry on a college campus. The other states leave it up to the individual higher learning institutions to decide. Missouri is not the only state in the union to try passing laws like this. There are several others, none have passed yet. HB668 also lowers the age for a conceal and carry permit from 23 to 21 years old. May 11, 2009, was the last time any action was taken on HB668.

Kenny Jones sponsored the bill. Jones said, “The ability to conceal and carry on institutions for higher education was an amendment to my bill.” The now retired senator said, “It was not my idea.” Don Wells, co-sponsor of the bill, was not available for comment.

If a bill like the one Jones sponsored passes in Missouri, Missouri Western State University will have to decide whether its students can conceal and carry.

Norma Garlington, a Western student said, “I don’t think conceal and carry at Missouri Western is a good idea.”
Garlington, an avid gun owner said, “The crime rate here is high enough. We don’t need to throw guns in the mix.”

The bills to conceal and carry on campus are being met with fierce opposition. Candy Banta a parent of a college student said, “College students already have too much to worry about. They shouldn’t have to worry about guns on camps.”

Trevor Wilson a member of our armed forces said, “It’s not the legal guns we have to worry about it’s the illegal ones and that is what we worry about now.”

“If everybody had to wonder who had a gun maybe they would think twice before using one,” Wilson said.

If a bill like the one Kelley sponsored passes in Missouri, Missouri Western State University will have to decide whether its’ students can conceal and carry.