Oklahoma GOP lawmakers push for guns on campuses

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Despite fierce opposition from presidents at Oklahoma’s public colleges and universities, a group of Republican legislators is pushing to allow guns on college campuses.

Members of House committees on public safety and on higher education will conduct a joint interim study on the idea Wednesday at the state Capitol. The meeting was requested by state Rep. John Enns of Enid and state Sens. A.J. Griffin of Guthrie and Ralph Shortey of Oklahoma City.

The three are among those in both parties in the Legislature who are strong supporters of expanding gun rights, and similar proposals in previous years have received bipartisan support.

But college presidents have resoundingly opposed the idea and say campuses already are safe and that more guns will jeopardize that safety.