Five people defended a measure which would allow for college students to carry and conceal firearms on the state's college campuses.

Originally, House Bill 668 was a measure to lower the age for a gun permit to 21 from 23. But then the legislative process ran it course, which led to an additional amendment to allow for concealed handguns on college campuses.

The University of Missouri System and Missouri State University each opposed the measure when the conceal and carry provision was added.

"I would be scared if someone in my dorm owned a gun," says Lisa Grelle, a University of Missouri student.

However, one of the supporters of the bill that spoke in Jefferson City was a student from the Missouri University of Science and Technology. He said the bill was vital to college campus safety in the wake of the Virginia Tech shooting.

Mizzou sophomore student A.J. Hohman says he grew up hunting and has been around guns all of his life. He supports the measure.

"I believe everyone has the right to own a gun. I believe in the second amendment," Hohman said.

Hohman did say he understands if the measure does not pass.

This issue has been a controversial topic in the legislature since the amendment for concealed handguns was added on April 8.

It even brought a four bullet survivor of the Virginia Tech shooting to the State Capitol to speak against the legislation.

Senate Judiciary Committee Vice Chairman Sen. Jack Goodman, R - Mt. Vernon, offered several opportunities for anyone to voice their opposition but no one did.

The committee chair, Sen. Matt Bartle, R - Jackson, has already spoken up in support of the bill. The measure needs only one more vote from the Senate Judiciary Committee before it reaches the Senate Floor.

By early Tuesday morning, it became clear the bill will not be able to go through all of the steps needed for it to pass before the legislative session ends this week.