MSA survey shows students oppose concealed carry rights

More than 7,000 students voted in the survey.

By Campbell Massie

Published May 5, 2009

A Missouri Students Association survey revealed Monday that 76 percent of MU students who participated in the survey are opposed to concealed carry on campus.

MSA conducted the survey in response to an amendment to a bill that passed the Missouri house that allows concealed carry rights on public university campuses. Rep. Brian Munzlinger, R-Williamstown, added the amendment to a bill that reduced the minimum age to receive a concealed carry permit from 23 to 21.

The survey had 7,367 responses from MU students, which is a larger amount of responses than in recent MSA referendums about sustainability, gender inclusion in the university's nondiscrimination policy. Even the MSA presidential elections garnered just shy of 5,000 student votes, MSA President Jordan Paul said.

MSA passed a resolution April 15 against the House bill, before they conducted the survey.

"Honestly, I am not surprised by the results," MSA Senate Speaker Amanda Shelton said. "If anything it is a stronger affirmation of what the Senate has already voted on."

Although the survey was conducted by MSA's executive branch, it does not hold the weight of an official referendum. Referendums must be passed through MSA Senate before being sent to students. Paul said conducting the survey while the issue was still fresh in students' minds was most important.

When the survey was first issued, a glitch delayed its release for several hours Monday morning. It concluded Friday afternoon.

Associated Students of the University of Missouri board chairman Craig Stevenson said he was not surprised by the results of the survey because they coincided with the results that ASUM found in an earlier survey.

Stevenson said he thought the wording in the ASUM survey did not make it clear that there is a permit that must be acquired legally in order to have concealed carry, which would then extend to the campuses as well. The MSA survey clarified that language.

Stevenson said he feels that the survey shows that students are overwhelmingly opposed to having guns on campus, with or without the altered language.

The number of students that participated in the survey is something Stevenson hopes resonates with Missouri legislators to show that they care about this issue, but that they want to be politically active, he said.

Paul said he feels the combination of the MSA and ASUM surveys, as well as the MSA Senate resolution affirms the student body's position.

While Paul doubts the legislation on the state level will go anywhere this session, state representatives will now have the results of the survey to take into consideration of the subject returns next session.

MU College Republicans Chairman Jonathan Ratliff helped to draft the legislation and is lobbying for the bill in Jefferson City with Munzlinger.

"We are doing this because it's your constitutional right," he said.

Ratliff said he felt a public opinion poll like the ASUM and MSA surveys should not hinder his right to bear arms. He said he plans to bring the bill back next legislative session because he believes Missourians support it.

"I will bring it back every year that I am in Missouri," Ratliff said.