Attorney General's News Release

Dec. 2, 1997

Nixon renews call for gun-free school zones in wake of shootings at Kentucky high school

Jefferson City, Mo. — Attorney General Jay Nixon today renewed his call for gun-free school zones in Missouri in the wake of yesterday's shootings at a Kentucky high school that left three students dead.

Nixon said current state law prohibits lethal weapons within school buildings but does not address the possession of firearms on school property outside the school itself. A provision to create gun-free zones within 1,000 feet of schools was removed from the 1996 Safe Schools Act before the act was passed by the Missouri General Assembly.

"There is no state law that keeps a student from bringing a gun in his car to the school parking lot or possessing a gun right outside the school door," Nixon said. "We need to move forward and do more to protect our students. We must send a stronger message to our students that guns are illegal at school. We must make certain the legislature gets gun-free school zones passed this year."

A federal law creating gun-free school zones was struck down in 1995 by the U.S. Supreme Court, which said such laws were within the jurisdiction of state governments, not the federal government. Nixon said Missouri needed to follow the example of such states as Illinois and Wisconsin to create gun-free zones around schools.

"The safety of our children should not be compromised when they step outside their schools," he said. Nixon announced the gun-free school zone proposal in September as part of his 1998 anti-crime legislative package. He will announce other proposals, including full funding for alternative schools, later this month.

Inquiries from consumers should be directed to consumer@ago.mo.gov or 1-800-392-8222 (from within Missouri) or 573-751-3321 (outside Missouri).

All media inquiries should be directed to Press Secretary John Fougere.

E-mail      Phone: 573-751-8844         Fax: 573-751-5818