ST. LOUIS — Gov. Mike Parson said on Thursday that he would send the Missouri Highway Patrol to help police the city in the wake of an especially bloody summer here, but would not commit to gun control measures, despite pleas from city leaders and clergy.

Parson met with Mayor Lyda Krewson and almost two dozen religious leaders from across the state on Thursday morning at the Wainwright State Office Building downtown. The leaders urged Parson to act aggressively against the spate of violence in the city.

Parson promised to find funding — likely in the “million-dollar bracket” — for social programs that address gun violence, but left gun control measures in the hands of the Legislature.

“I’ve got to be careful to stay in my lane,” he said.

Clergy said after the meeting that they were heartened to hear Parson express support for such social programs, but disappointed he refused to advocate for gun control.

“We asked the governor to be a champion for our community around the issue of common-sense gun laws,” the Rev. Darryl Gray said. “We didn’t get a commitment from the governor today to be that champion.”