subscribesubscriber servicescontact usabout ussite map
Tue, Nov 10 2009 

Published March 31, 2008 11:49 pm - OKLAHOMA CITY — After strong protests from college presidents and police officials, state Senate leaders decided Monday to shelve a bill to allow military veterans and others with firearms training to carry concealed weapons on college campuses.
Sen. Mike Johnson, R-Kingfisher, said he and Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield, D-Ardmore, made a joint decision to leave the bill off Wednesday’s agenda of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the last meeting of the panel before Thursday’s deadline to hear House-passed measures.


Leaders decide to shelve gun bill



The Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY — After strong protests from college presidents and police officials, state Senate leaders decided Monday to shelve a bill to allow military veterans and others with firearms training to carry concealed weapons on college campuses.

Sen. Mike Johnson, R-Kingfisher, said he and Sen. Johnnie Crutchfield, D-Ardmore, made a joint decision to leave the bill off Wednesday’s agenda of the Senate Appropriations Committee, the last meeting of the panel before Thursday’s deadline to hear House-passed measures.

Crutchfield and Johnson are co-chairmen of the budget panel, where the bill was assigned.

According to Crutchfield, he and Johnson “couldn’t agree” to hear the bill. “The bottom line is the bill will not be considered this session,” he said.

Sen. Randy Brogdon, Senate sponsor of the bill, was disappointed but not surprised. Brogdon, R-Owasso, said he was offended that college presidents said his bill would have qualified mass murderers for gun permits if they were military veterans.

“If they want to kill a bill, they can find another way to do it other than degrade our military personnel,” Brogdon said.

University presidents, faculty and students had loudly opposed the measure, which sponsors said would improve campus security. Educators said it would have the opposite effect.

Also left off the budget committee’s agenda was another House-passed measure, which would allow some 18 year olds to obtain a concealed carry permit.

Sen. Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, said so much heat was generated by the college gun bill that a decision was made to also ditch his proposal, which was introduced by Rep. Jerry Ellis, D-Valliant.

The agenda of the appropriations committee was released after college presidents appeared before the Campus Life and Safety & Security Task Force and begged lawmakers not to consider the bill.

University of Oklahoma President David Boren said the bill would hurt recruiting of students and faculty. He said it would pose a dilemma for police trying to determine if a person wielding a weapon is a “deranged gunman or someone who thinks he is doing good vigilante work.”

Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis said mass murderers Timothy McVeigh and Charles Whitman would qualify to carry guns on campus under terms of the legislation.

McVeigh was executed for the bombing of a federal building in Oklahoma City that killed 168 people in 1995. Whitman was the sniper responsible for 15 deaths at the University of Texas in 1966.

Under the bill, students who are in the military, honorably discharged or have a law enforcement certification would qualify for permits to carry concealed weapons on campus.



print this story    email this story    comment on this story   

Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.


Add a comment on this story







autoconx
Premier Guide
Find a business

Walking Fingers
Maps, Menus, Store hours, Coupons, and more...
Premier Guide
Click here!!

: Special Offer For New Subscribers : 32 buy 1 get 1 free offers

Click Here!



Featured Jobs

ORTHOPAEDIC
Specialist of the Four States is currently accepting applications for the following postiions: Physical Therapist, Occcu...>MORE

See all ads

Featured Transportation

VOLKSWAGEN, 1998 BEETLE,
black, 5 speed, looks, runs and drives great, only 84,000 miles, $3400. 417-621-0850....>MORE

See all ads

Featured Homes

Deerfield Estates
in Carl Junction, prime building sites, reduced $10,000 each. 417-825-0052...>MORE

NO CREDIT NEEDED QUALIFY
for 0 down Own completely remodeled 2/2 16x80 single section manufacturered home, 2 acres, trees, corner lot, large deck...>MORE

1995 16x72 2 BR, 2 BA,
fully furnished, all appliances, 1 owner, beautiful, smoke free, must move. $17,500. (417)423-2385....>MORE

NO CREDIT
needed qualify for 0 down Own completely remodeled 3/2 16x80 single section manufacturered home, 2 acres, new front deck...>MORE

See all ads

Other Cool Stuff

1993 KUBOTA 1560
lawn tractor, 42” cut with bagger, $800. (417)364-8231....>MORE

BASS BOAT, 2005
Lowe aluminum, 17’, 2005 90 hp Mercury, 2006 trailer, excellent shape, low hours. $7,500. (417)776-8846 evenings or 417-...>MORE

CRAFTSMAN
radial 10” arm saw; skil saw 7 1/4”; Singer Featherweight machine; clocks/pocket watches; 7.62-54 rifle, accessories; Ca...>MORE

TEA CUP
Chihuahua pup, female, shots, wormed. Information (417)843-2735...>MORE

10 YEAR OLD BUCKSKIN
mare, 14-hands, broke for anyone, $750; miniature Jack and bred Jenny, $400 pair. (417)434-3700....>MORE

See all ads


 

Community Newspaper Holdings, Inc.CNHI Classified Advertising NetworkCNHI News Service
Associated Press content © 2009. All rights reserved. AP content may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Our site is powered by Zope and our Internet Yellow Pages site is powered by PremierGuide.
Some parts of our site may require you to download the Flash Player Plugin.
View our Privacy Policy
Advertiser index

 

 

The Joplin Globe Electronic Edition