GOP candidates to Nixon: Say No to Syrian refugees

Gov. Jay Nixon should add Missouri to the list of states refusing to accept Syrian refugees.

That was Monday's message from at least three of the Republicans who want to replace Nixon as Missouri's governor.

In a statement Monday afternoon, Nixon told the News Tribune: "The safety of Missourians is my highest priority, and the terrorists who were involved in planning and perpetrating the attacks in Paris must be caught and brought to justice."

In a letter to the governor, Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder wrote: "We must be certain the federal government's security measures are thorough and effectively implemented and that terrorists are not coming to Missouri masquerading as refugees."

Catherine Hanaway, a former Missouri House Speaker and U.S. Attorney, said: "The Islamic State has claimed credit for terrorist attacks in other states such as Texas, threatened more attacks on America and poses a real threat to the safety of our state."

St. Louis businessman John Brunner, a former Marine, said: "While I sympathize with the Syrian refugee problem, we must not risk any chance of putting our families and communities in harm's way."