UNION, Mo. – East Central College doesn’t want students to carry weapons on campus, even if they’re trained military security professionals with a permit to carry a concealed firearm.

A student who served in the U.S. Marines and worked as a security professional over the last decade floated the idea Thursday of allowing properly trained students to carry weapons on campus to assist law enforcement during active shooter scenarios or other emergencies, but the board of trustees shot him down, The Missourian reports.

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The student did not reveal his name when he spoke during the public comments portion of the board meeting this week, but said he’s attending school at the college on the GI Bill after his time in the military.

“You can’t have free thought and education without safety,” the student said. “You are facing terrorism. It doesn’t matter what the outlet, where it comes from … it is terrorism in any form.”

“There are a few of us who have the training, the mindset and the equipment necessary to ensure security of the school without any extra costs to the school and without the level of security being heightened so much that you restrict education,” he said.

“Many of us, like myself, we have a conceal permit and we are an active person that would carry most of the time, and all I’m asking is that I’m allowed to continue to carry inside of the school, not only for my own safety, but for the safety of others,” the student said.

ECC’s response: Thanks, but no thanks.

ECC President Jon Bauer told CBS St. Louis that the school has a Union Police Department substation on campus, and will employ officers at the school full time this year.

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Bauer rejected the student’s suggestion because of a lack of data.

“I have not seen evidence or data that support the argument that arming students or employees is the best approach to campus safety,” he said. “I’m very comfortable with having the Union Police Department based here full-time.”

The student told the Missourian he believes that allowing undercover students to provide “true security” by carrying weapons on campus would provide much more safety for his classmates, but Bauer disagrees.

“I have real concerns with allowing campus carry,” he said without describing the concerns.

“I don’t think expanding open carry provisions is the right approach to improve security on our campuses and I haven’t been shown evidence or data that suggests otherwise,” Bauer told the Missourian. “I think we’re taking the responsible approach, and the right approach for our institution.”