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JEFFERSON CITY (AP) - With a mixture of politics, religion and patriotism, more than 150 people rallied at the Capitol today in support of legislation authorizing concealed weapons in Missouri.

Three years after Missouri voters narrowly rejected a measure authorizing concealed weapons, a coalition of gun groups from across the state urged lawmakers to pass concealed weapons legislation.

Elgar Macy, president of Missourians for Public Safety, urged gun rights supporters to press lawmakers for quick action on such legislation, which has failed consistently over the last decade in Missouri.

"This year we’re looking at performance. The pressure is on since this is an election year," Macy said.

Kerry Messer, a lobbyist for the conservative Missouri Family Network, led the group in a prayer offered to encourage legislative support for concealed weapons legislation.

"If you could enlighten us with knowledge so we can use that knowledge to lift up those legislators that have the integrity to stand up for what is right," Messer said. "To stand against those, Lord, as you would have us do, who would take away liberties and those who would stand for oppression of the weak."

In April 1999, voters rejected concealed weapons with strong anti-gun votes in St. Louis and Kansas City. The issue resurfaced in the Legislature a year ago but was dumped in the final weeks of the session.

Gov. Bob Holden has said he opposes concealed weapons legislation.

Last month, the House overwhelmingly passed legislation that would allow motorists to carry concealed guns in their vehicles.

The bill, which has not yet received a Senate hearing, would allow guns to be placed in glove boxes, under seats or in other parts of a vehicle’s passenger area.

In the Senate, a bill awaiting debate would let those 21 and older carry concealed weapons. Sponsored by Sen. John Cauthorn, R-Mexico, the bill could be debated as early as next week.

There are currently 33 states that allow concealed weapons and another 11 states that have restricted rights.

States along with Missouri that do not have such laws are Kansas, Illinois, Nebraska, Wisconsin and Ohio.

Michael Gordinier of St. Louis said he believes there is enough time in the remaining four weeks of the legislative session for a concealed weapons bill to pass.

"We’re basically going to tell the story of the 44 states that have conceal and carry and any opposition to that is, in reality, a mental illness," he said.

Copyright 2002 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.