The Missouri General Assembly is on Spring break, but before they left on Thursday, legislators voted to make changes to Missouri’s concealed weapons law.
The changes include lowering Missouri’s minimum age for getting a permit to carry a concealed gun from 23-years-old to 21.
“Currently our state has the highest age requirement to obtain a permit and we are cheating our young adults out of their ability to defend themselves,” said Rep. Jeanie Riddle, (R) Callaway County.
The bill does not tamper with university-impose prohibitions, though, which currently states that it is illegal for a person with conceal and carry privilege to carry on campus.
Much of the House bill focuses on protecting adults from anti-gun efforts. For example, Missouri could not impose high taxes on ammunition as a back-door effort to control gun use. It would criminalize the use of false identities to buy guns and gun shows – a measure that appears to target police sting operations.
“It’s illegal to possess a controlled substance,” Cole County Sheriff Greg White said. “It’s illegal to purchase controlled substances, and yet there’s waivers for law enforcement to do that anyway.”
Missouri began issuing concealed weapons permits in 2004. Applicants must live in Missouri, have no felony convictions, pass a training course and pass a background check. Critics of the bill believe any liberalization of gun rights will trigger an increase in violence.
“Since the debate was cut off on this bill yesterday, 248 people have been shot in America,” said Rep. Jeanne Kirkton, (D) St. Louis.
Advocates say gun rights are essential to allow people to protect themselves from that violence.
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