Gun rights supporters often argue that gun-free zones create places where criminals feel safer carrying out crimes and violence because it is less likely someone will have a gun to use to stop them.

Based on that, Representative Mike Moon (R-Ash Grove) believes owners of businesses in those zones bear some liability for their customers in the event of a crime.

“Business owners within those gun-free zones really should have some responsibility if an individual patron is hurt in their business area,” Moon told Missourinet. “Why not require business owners in gun-free zones to hold enough liability insurance to cover any injury that would be caused by a gunshot or gun wound or even a death?”

Moon says he’s working on that proposal for the 2016 session.

Proponents of gun-free zones say there is no evidence that criminals seek them out as places to commit crimes.