Lincoln University's police chief is right: We don't need guns on college campuses.

Gary Hill, LU's police chief, testified last week to a Senate committee that allowing people to carry guns on the university's campus could lead to shootings, including in situations where a fight escalates and suddenly a gun is involved.

As we recently reported, the Senate Transportation and Public Safety Committee heard two bills Thursday morning that are intended to strengthen gun rights, both sponsored by Sen. Eric Burlison, R-Battlefield.

One would allow people with concealed carry permits to bring guns and other deadly weapons onto college campuses and other places they're currently restricted. Allowing concealed carry on campus was the most controversial part of that bill.

LU isn't alone in its opposition to the idea. Other universities have opposed the idea as well.

Scott Rhoad, director of public safety at the University of Central Missouri, also spoke in opposition of the bill, saying he hasn't been in a situation in 30 years of law enforcement that he thinks would have gone better if the person had a gun.

We believe concealed carry on Missouri college campuses has a greater potential to result in the loss of life than saving lives.

On Jan. 30, we reported a Jefferson City man was sentenced to jail for making a terroristic threat — he threatened to harm students at Lincoln University after an off-campus shooting that left one man dead.

Just this past November, a student at the University of Central Missouri was accidentally shot and killed on campus by another student.

Moms Demand Action say the rate of gun deaths in Missouri increased 55 percent in the last decade, compared to a 17 percent increase nationwide. More than 1,000 Missourians are shot and killed every year, giving Missouri the eighth highest rate of gun deaths in the United States, the organization says.

Expanding gun rights on college campuses isn't going to help.

News Tribune