Committee meeting on bill removing college gun ban
A Missouri Senate committee is meeting Wednesday morning for a public hearing in Jefferson City on a bill to remove the current ban on carrying concealed firearms in higher education institutions.
State Sen. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown, will testify and present Senate Bill 731 Wednesday morning at 8:15 at the Statehouse. Munzlinger will testify before the Senate Transportation, Infrastructure and Public Safety Committee, which is chaired by State Sen. Doug Libla, R-Poplar Bluff.
Sen. Munzlinger represents 14 counties, including Chariton and Randolph in the ABC 17 News viewing area.
Under current Missouri law, a concealed-carry permit does not allow a person to carry concealed firearms into any higher education institution without the consent of the governing body of that institution or a school leader.
Munzlinger’s bill removes the prohibition on carrying concealed guns into higher education institutions; however, Senate Bill 731 does allow those institutions to ban concealed firearms under several conditions.
Under Munzlinger’s proposal, the Missouri Department of Public Safety would be required to grant an exemption for a higher education institution if that institution can meet requirements. Requirements would include showing the permanent placement of security personnel and weapon-screening devices at each entrance to any building on the institution’s property.
A DPS exemption would also require that security staff screen every person entering the building for weapons.
ABC 17’s Joe McLean is covering Wednesday’s hearing at the Statehouse, and will have updates Wednesday on KMIZ.
