State Senate scraps plans to allow certain people to bring guns on college campuses

Republican supporters of the bill pushed to allow concealed-weapon permit holders to carry their firearms out in the open, including on school campuses, as long as they wore identification and stored their weapons in safe holsters. But State Senator Paula Dockery proposed an amendment at the committee’s meeting yesterday to keep out the guns on campus language in the bill. She says she was persuaded to make the change by an outcry from people against the prospect. The sponsor of the bill, Senator Greg Evers, agreed to remove the language in the bill allowing guns on campuses in order to keep the original intent of the bill. He says the bill is designed to protect those with concealed weapons permits from being charged with brandishing a firearm when the gun is accidentally revealed. He adds, he thinks the bill would be better if the language stayed in, but a majority of members wanted to see it removed. Evers adds, they will bring the bill back up at the next Senate Criminal Justice Committe meeting, and it should continue to move on.