SPRINGFIELD -- A move to allow concealed weapons on college campuses is dividing administrators and their students.

The State House is on its way to approving an amendment to allow college students to carry guns, with a conceal and carry permit.

But school administrators say it would make their campuses less safe.

If a deranged shooter was able to make way into a campus building, the idea is that students themselves -- and not campus police -- could be the first line of defense.

"It can make those campuses safer because there's a possibility that a student can help assist in taking care of the issue before more people are killed or hurt," said student Nathan Starmer, a college Republican who supports the change.  Starmer said the ban ignores reality, because anyone who wants a weapon, will carry one.

"I think campus officials would be surprised at the amount of students who have weapons and who keep them, don't show them," Starmer said.

"I think it puts the campus at more risk having them around," said Missouri State University public safety director Gary Snavely.

University officials argue the move would make their campus less safe.  The President has called the action "unwise," and Snavely said the shooting should be left to the professionals.

"It would be hard to distinguish who the bad guy is if we had an active shooter on campus," Snavely said.

Matt Rottler is the point man for the right to carry on campus.  "Students for conceal carry is about 40,000 members strong right now," Rottler said, citing nationwide numbers.

But even Rottler is unsure about the future debate, like whether concealed bans at hospitals and stadiums should also be lifted.

Everyone's aim is to protect students.  The question that remains is if more armed students on campus is the best way to accomplish that goal.

Get all your political news on the KY3 Political Notebook.

Follow Dave Catanese's TWITTER updates HERE.