Most university presidents in the state oppose the legislation. So does Rep. Kathy Stein, a Lexington Democrat who heads the Judiciary Committee, The (Louisville) Courier-Journal reported.

More than half of the state House of Representatives have signed on to the bill. But Stein has no plans to bring it to a committee vote.

Under current state law, colleges and universities can decide whether to ban weapons completely from campuses and other university owned property.

Rep. Robert Damron, also a Democrat and the measure's primary sponsor, said it is "not a big deal," noting it would allow legal gun owners to keep their weapons in their cars when they go to work or school.

Critics say adding to the places where guns can be brought could lead to more road rage shootings and other violent incidents.