STATE REJECTS PROPOSITION B

Missouri voters Tuesday night apparently gunned down Proposition B, the concealed-weapons measure, by a narrow margin.

With more than 96 percent of the precincts reporting statewide, voters were rejecting the measure by a vote of 650,926, or 52 percent, against to 601,093, or 48 percent, in favor.

Jim Grebing, a spokesman for the secretary of state, said the remaining returns weren't large enough to turn the tide.

He said the measure was defeated largely because of strong opposition from voters in St. Louis city and county.

Spurred on by Proposition B, more than 1.2 million Missourians went to the polls, a record for an April election, Grebing said.

The measure, the first such referendum in the nation, would have allowed law-abiding Missourians to carry concealed guns.

Southeast Missouri voters overwhelmingly supported Proposition B.

The measure passed in all 26 counties in the 8th Congressional District. In contrast, Proposition A, the measure to expand 911 service for cellular phone service, went down to defeat in every county in the district.

State Sen. Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, said he was proud of the support the conceal-carry measure received in Southeast Missouri.

In Cape Girardeau County, the measure garnered the support of 8,800 voters or 3,171 more than the opposition could muster.

"I think they have considered the issues carefully and voted based on the facts," Kinder said from Jefferson City.

Earlier in the evening he said he hoped the the urban votes "don't swamp us."

Proponents said concealed weapons would allow the state's residents to defend themselves from criminals.

Opponents painted the measure as a return to the "Wild, Wild, West."

The National Rifle Association almost singlehandedly bankrolled the campaign for Proposition B, pouring more than $3.7 million into the effort.

Cape Girardeau County Prosecuting Attorney Morley Swingle said he expected a close vote.

Swingle adamantly opposed the measure, which would have lifted a concealed-weapons ban dating to the days of Jesse James.

"I felt all along that there was a silent majority of people who did not the like the idea of concealed weapons floating around out in the public," said Swingle.

Chaffee Police Chief and Proposition B supporter Keith Carr said he was surprised at the close vote.

"I knew there would be some opposition, but I didn't think it would be that strong of an opposition. "I hoped there would be more apathy on their side than ours," he said.

"I think the urban areas have always had a different look on gun ownership than the rural areas do," said Carr.

Election officials throughout the region reported about 10 percent higher voter turnout than usual for an April election. The concealed-guns measure helped fuel the turnout, election officials said.

In Cape Girardeau County, 33 percent of the registered voters went to the polls.

Carr predicted Tuesday's vote wouldn't put in an end to efforts to pass a concealed-guns measure.

Kinder, a vocal supporter of Proposition B and one of the lawmakers who helped get it on the ballot, said supporters failed to win over many women voters.

"We probably had more of a problem with women and I think we are probably seeing it tonight," Kinder said.

He said it is too early to look at revisiting the issue. But he said another referendum isn't likely.

"No other state has tried it," he said.