LEGISLATORS BACK CONCEALED WEAPONS

Law-abiding Missourians should be allowed to carry concealed weapons for protection, all eight legislators participating in a discussion of issues affecting the state said Friday.

The four Democratic and four Republican members of the Missouri General Assembly spoke at Academic Auditorium on the campus of Southeast Missouri State University during the first of a series of public issues forums to be sponsored by the school. Approximately 75 people attended.

Missouri's new speaker of the House of Representatives, Steve Gaw of Moberly, joined seven Southeast Missouri state legislators on the panel. It marked Gaw's first public appearance outside of Jefferson City or his home district since becoming speaker in January.

"This is a great opportunity for me to get to know what your thoughts on issues are out in this part of the state," said Gaw, a Democrat.

Also participating were Reps. Mary Kasten, R-Cape Girardeau; David Schwab, R-Jackson; Mark L. Richardson, R-Poplar Bluff; and Don Prost, D-Caruthersville; and Sens. Jerry Howard, D-Dexter; Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau; and Bill McKenna, D-Barnhart.

While the concealed weapons issue is not split down party lines, as it has in the past, the legislation is opposed by many urban legislators.

"We're a little short on urban people here," said Scott Charton, Jefferson City bureau chief for The Associated Press. Charton moderated the discussion.

Kinder said carrying concealed weapons was outlawed by Jim Crow-era legislation intended to keep weapons out of the hands of black Americans. Missouri, he said, should join the majority of states in returning the right to citizens.

"States need to begin acting as laboratories of democracy, just as Justice (Louis) Brandeis said they should," said Kinder, invoking the name of the former Supreme Court justice.

Proposed legislation in the Senate would allow citizens to petition the Missouri Highway Patrol for permits to carry concealed weapons. The patrol would run background checks to screen out applicants who have criminal records or a past history of mental illness or alcohol and drug abuse.

Kasten would prefer county sheriff's departments to handle that process. "I feel sheriffs personally know family backgrounds much more and are familiar with people who would be getting the permits," she said.

Howard said he would support a carry and conceal bill if it were done properly. In 1992, he voted against such a measure that had been amended to the extent that it could have cost an applicant thousands of dollars to obtain a permit. "If it is a good bill, I'll vote for it," Howard said.

This legislation targets law-abiding citizens, Schwab said. Criminals already are carrying weapons.

There is also a push in the legislature this session to promote safer schools.

"Clearly, if you're going to have effective education, you have got to have a safe environment," said Richardson, the House Republican floor leader. "Safety and freedom from fear on the part of students and on the part of teachers."

Gaw said the proposed measures will complement the sweeping juvenile crime reforms enacted last year. "These pieces will complete the puzzle."

Along with increased access to student disciplinary records to tip off educators about potential problems, Gaw supports measures to provide alternative schools for students who have proven troublesome in traditional settings.

"The only thing I can see as a possible answer is the alternative school," Gaw said.

Some of the legislators said more needs to be done to identify and address problems when a child is young.

"I think it is a situation which needs to be taken care of early on," said Howard. "By the time they're at the high school level, it's too late."