In light of the recent mass shooting at the Super Bowl Parade in Kansas City, lawmakers are making changes to upcoming gun law bills. Here are the details you need to know…
Originally posted on DK
there will be a delay on the proposed gun laws that lawmakers were hoping to pass in early 2024. This delay is tied directly to the mass shooting at the Super Bowl Parade in Kansas City last week. What makes this noteworthy is that the bills that lawmakers were hoping to pass were bills that would loosen up gun restrictions.
“House Republicans would not be pursuing the two pieces of legislation this session. And while Patterson thought the bills were “worthy of debate,” the shooting really put a damper on their chances of passing and therefore, “[n]ow is not the appropriate time” to talk about loosening gun laws…HB 2291 and HB 1708…The first would have exempted sales tax on ammunition and gun purchases, making Missouri the first state in the union to tax food but not guns… The second law would have allowed firearms to be carried inside places of worship and on public transit.”
The Bills In Question Are
HB 2291 — TAX FREE FIREARMS AND AMMUNITION
SPONSOR: Davidson
This bill specifies that firearms and ammunition sold in this state
are exempt from state and local sales tax.
This bill is similar to SB 131 (2023).
HB 1708 — CONCEALED CARRY PERMITS
SPONSOR: Schnelting
Currently, it is a crime to board a bus with a dangerous or deadly
weapon or carry such a weapon in a terminal.
This bill allows a concealed carry permit holder to lawfully carry
firearms on public transportation, as defined in the bill. Anyone
with a permit may also carry a firearm while traveling by bus.
This bill does not apply to property of Amtrak or any partnership
in which Amtrak engages.
The bill expands the listed items that satisfy the requirement that
an applicant for a concealed carry permit demonstrate knowledge of
firearms safety training to include, for active duty military
service members, receipt of a pistol marksmanship recognition.
Currently, an applicant is not eligible for a concealed carry
permit or a Missouri lifetime or extended concealed carry permit if
the applicant has pled guilty to, entered a plea of nolo
contendere, or been convicted of a crime punishable by imprisonment
of a term exceeding one year or has pled guilty to or entered a
plea of nolo contendere to one or more misdemeanor offenses
involving crimes of violence within a five-year period immediately
preceding application for the permit. This bill removes the ban on
eligibility for a concealed carry permit or a Missouri lifetime or
extended concealed carry permit if the applicant has pled guilty to
or entered a plea of nolo contendere of such crimes.
The bill expands the list of persons exempted from certain
prohibitions on the unlawful use of weapons as provided for in
571.030, RSMo, to now include certain retired judiciary members and
current and former members of the General Assembly when in
possession of a concealed carry permit.
The bill lowers the age requirement from at least 19 to 18 years of
age or older for concealed carry permits.
The bill repeals the prohibition on the concealed carrying of
firearms in churches and other places of worship by a person with a
valid concealed carry permit.
This bill is similar to HB 282 (2023).
Republican Majority Leader Jonathan Patterson told the Kansas City Star that House Republicans would not be pursuing the two pieces of legislation this session. And while Patterson thought the bills were “worthy of debate,” the shooting really put a damper on their chances of passing and therefore, “[n]ow is not the appropriate time” to talk about loosening gun laws.