While the nation’s capital had its largest political rally in history with March For Our Lives on Saturday, Missouri Republicans advanced a bill today (Wed., March 28) that would expand the locations where civilians can carry concealed firearms.
On March 28, the Missouri House Rules Committee passed House Bill 1936 in a 8-3 vote, and only one Republican voted against the measure, state Rep. Noel J. Shull (R-Kansas City).
The bill’s sponsor, state Rep. Jered Taylor (R-Nixa), said that under the law, “law abiding citizens” would now be able to conceal carry with or without a permit into the following 10 locations: churches, amusement parks, stadiums, hospitals, casinos, bars, child care facilities, polling locations, local government buildings and state government buildings. The law also lists private schools. These locations were previously considered gun-free zones for civilian concealed carry.
Individuals would have to have a concealed carry weapons (CCW) permit in order to carry into college campuses and capitol, Taylor said. Thebill also states that state, political subdivisions and public institutions of higher learning cannot impose any policies or contractual requirements that would prohibit employees or students from the carrying of concealed firearms.
“Again I want to reiterate, the locations that are private property locations would have the ability to choose whether or not to allow guns on their property,” Taylor told the St. Louis American. “If they do not want weapons in their establishment, they would simply post a sign, exactly what all other private property owners have to do under current statute.”
State Rep. Michael Butler (D-St. Louis) voted against the measure, along with other Democrats on the Legislative Rules Committee. Butler was critical of Missouri Republicans’ “guns everywhere” agenda.
“This is their solution to the Parkland shooting, and it’s not going to work,” Butler said. “They believe when people have guns, they won’t get shot.”
Butler believes the bill will probably make it to the House floor for a final vote next week.
Supporters testified that gun-free zones just create opportunities for shooters, according to the bill summary.
“Establishing gun free zones has not ended mass shooting,” the bill summary states of supporters’ testimonies. “Law enforcement can’t be everywhere; they can’t stop all crimes in progress. People need to be able to defend themselves.”
Those who oppose the bill say that they are concerned that allowing guns on college campuses will lead to more injuries or deaths.
“Opponents are concerned that college students often act impulsively and students who may be drinking heavily will have access to firearms,” the bill summary states of opponents’ testimonies. “Campus safety personnel stressed that opportunity theft is the number one crime on campus so there is a high likelihood that guns could be stolen and used in irresponsible ways. Opponents asked that college campuses continue to be allowed to decide for themselves whether it is safe and appropriate to allow concealed carry on campus.”
Last month, the General Laws Committee heard six hours of testimony, from educators to bar owners, mostly opposing the bill. Yet the committee still passed the bill 8 to 4 in a party line vote.
