WBRZ - Baton Rouge

BATON ROUGE - A Belle Chasse lawmaker's proposal to allow college students to carry concealed handguns on campus has been rejected by a House committee.

Rep. Ernest Wooton, an independent from Belle Chasse and chairman of the Administration of Criminal Justice Committee, said his bill would help preserve the constitutional right to bear arms.

But other committee members said Wednesday that the bill would put college students and law enforcement officials at risk.

Before hearing public testimony, the committee voted 8-3 to involuntarily defer the bill, likely killing the measure for the regular session.