"Bill to lower gun permit age to 18 hits snag"

From KJRH in Tulsa:

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - A southeast Oklahoma lawmaker says he is in disbelief that the leadership of the Oklahoma House may shoot down his bill to allow 18-year-olds to get permits to carry concealed handguns.

House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa, says he doubts House leaders will permit a vote on a bill to lower the gun permit age from 21 to 18.

Benge also said higher education officials are expressing opposition to another bill that would allow 21-year-old students with concealed carry permits to bring guns onto college campuses.

"Not at this time," Benge said when asked if the House would take up the bill to allow 18-year-olds to apply for gun permits.

"He can stop it. There's no doubt about that," said Rep. Jerry Ellis, D-Valliant, sponsor of the legislation. . . .

Rep. Jason Murphey, R-Guthrie, who introduced the legislation to allow concealed guns on campus, said he understood that college presidents are raising a ruckus about his bill.

Among their arguments, Murphey said, is that his proposal could put professors in danger if a student gets angry over bad grades. . . .