Unfortunately, I think he will lose the suit. MO statute already provides relief for those who wish to carry on campus and in many of the other 12 restricted places- in the case of churches, schools and colleges, permission from the administration/executive can be secured to carry concealed ( and I suppose, openly now that a CC permit enables the bearer to carry openly anywhere other than the usual restricted places).
Since relief is available, the first court to hear it will likely say no joy to you (all). Ask and you can/may receive.....
But, maybe the first judge that hears it will be a conservative minded fellow too.
You may have a point but a conflict between a statute allowing optional administrative relief and a constitutional requirement for “strict scrutiny” appears to be one that an associate professor of law should be able draft an effective argument around. Throw in that conservative-minded judge you mention and things could get interesting.
But the unique concept is the MO strict scrutiny statute. Can a strict scrutiny constitutional right be denied by an administrator?
“...I suppose, openly now that a CC permit enables the bearer to carry openly anywhere other than the usual restricted places)”
Where are “the usual restricted places” as applied to open carry?