Attorney General's News Release

March 2, 1998

Law enforcement, educational, community organizations support bill to create gun-free school zones

Jefferson City, Mo. — Several educational, law enforcement and community organizations have voiced their support of proposed legislation to create gun-free school zones to the Missouri House of Representatives Criminal Law Committee.

Nixon has been actively promoting continued state funding for alternative schools as a way to fight crime. The Safe Schools Act provides 75 percent of the funding from the state for the first year of a district's alternative school program and 50 percent for the second year. State funding after the second year is uncertain.

The committee is considering House Bill 1445, which would create gun-free zones around schools. The bill, written with the support of Attorney General Jay Nixon, is sponsored by Reps. Brian May, Craig Hosmer, Patrick Dougherty, Jon Bennett, Timothy Green, James O'Toole and Phil Smith.

Nixon announced the gun-free proposal in September as part of his 1998 anti-crime legislative package. The committee has heard supportive testimony from representatives of the Missouri Sheriffs Association, the Missouri Federation of Teachers and the Missouri School Boards Association. In addition, written testimony in support of the bill was presented on behalf of the St. Louis Metropolitan Clergy Coalition, the Missouri State Teachers Association, the Missouri PTA, the Missouri Center for Safe Schools, the Missouri Association for Pupil Transportation and the Missouri School Bus Contractors Association.

"The people who work most closely with our kids when they are at school -- teachers, administrators, bus drivers and others -- recognize we need to do more to protect students," Nixon said. "We must send a stronger message that guns are illegal at school. The safety of our children should not be compromised when they step outside their schools."

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. 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 jurisdicition 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.

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.

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