National Carry AcademyMissouri House of Reps Votes to Allow Concealed Weapons Without Permits
September 14, 2016
For more info on being trained as a concealed carrier, visit our “State Laws” information portal: http://www.nationalcarryacademy.com/state-laws.
In the spring of 2016, the Missouri House of Representatives and the Senate passed a “Constitutional Carry” bill 112 to 37, and the bill is now headed to the Governor’s desk for approval or veto.
The legislation would allow those with a clean background to carry concealed weapons without a permit. The bill also would expand the state’s castle doctrine law by giving people the right to use deadly force to defend themselves and their property against intruders. Houseguests who were given permission, such as a baby sitter, also would be covered. The legislation also would create a “stand your ground” right, meaning people would have no duty to retreat from danger in any place they are legally entitled to be present.
The bill was sponsored by State Representative Eric Burlison, who says, “What we are changing is if you are a law abiding citizen, we’re not going to make it a felony charge to put that firearm in your pocket. The naive perception is that if we pass a law that says a felon can’t carry a firearm that they won’t. But the truth is they do. So what we really want to make sure is that we’re not trying to make it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to protect themselves and defend themselves.”
Burlison contends that forcing gun owners to undergo a background check through their local sheriff’s office and submit to gun training before carrying a concealed weapon creates an arbitrary burden on those interested in utilizing their Second Amendment-protected right.
Burlison is quoted as saying, “In 2014 Missourians made it abundantly clear that they have grown tired of the repeated attacks on our Second Amendment rights. This legislation simply aligns Missouri statutes with our state constitution so that our citizens can lawfully carry a concealed weapon without a permit. This will end the unfair tax on our right to bear arms by doing away with the concealed carry permit fee, and give Missourians the protection they deserve to exercise their Second Amendment rights.”
The National Rifle Association says 30 states have laws or court precedents stating people have no duty to retreat from a threat anywhere they are lawfully present. But Missouri’s measure would make it the first new “stand-your-ground” state since 2011.
The governor is expected to rule on the proposed bill sometime this Fall.
Nancy Thorne is founder and principal of Thorne Business Research. With more than 30 years experience as an information research and writing professional in small business, trade associations and large corporate environments. She has expertise in writing blog posts, articles, newsletters and reports for a diverse group of clients in a wide variety of industries. Prior to becoming an independent writer and information professional, Ms. Thorne held research and analytical positions with Bank of America and Citicorp and was a licensed teacher of English.
Missouri House of Reps Votes to Allow Concealed Weapons Without Permits
September 14, 2016
For more info on being trained as a concealed carrier, visit our “State Laws” information portal: http://www.nationalcarryacademy.com/state-laws.
In the spring of 2016, the Missouri House of Representatives and the Senate passed a “Constitutional Carry” bill 112 to 37, and the bill is now headed to the Governor’s desk for approval or veto.
The legislation would allow those with a clean background to carry concealed weapons without a permit. The bill also would expand the state’s castle doctrine law by giving people the right to use deadly force to defend themselves and their property against intruders. Houseguests who were given permission, such as a baby sitter, also would be covered. The legislation also would create a “stand your ground” right, meaning people would have no duty to retreat from danger in any place they are legally entitled to be present.
The bill was sponsored by State Representative Eric Burlison, who says, “What we are changing is if you are a law abiding citizen, we’re not going to make it a felony charge to put that firearm in your pocket. The naive perception is that if we pass a law that says a felon can’t carry a firearm that they won’t. But the truth is they do. So what we really want to make sure is that we’re not trying to make it more difficult for law-abiding citizens to protect themselves and defend themselves.”
Burlison contends that forcing gun owners to undergo a background check through their local sheriff’s office and submit to gun training before carrying a concealed weapon creates an arbitrary burden on those interested in utilizing their Second Amendment-protected right.
Burlison is quoted as saying, “In 2014 Missourians made it abundantly clear that they have grown tired of the repeated attacks on our Second Amendment rights. This legislation simply aligns Missouri statutes with our state constitution so that our citizens can lawfully carry a concealed weapon without a permit. This will end the unfair tax on our right to bear arms by doing away with the concealed carry permit fee, and give Missourians the protection they deserve to exercise their Second Amendment rights.”
The National Rifle Association says 30 states have laws or court precedents stating people have no duty to retreat from a threat anywhere they are lawfully present. But Missouri’s measure would make it the first new “stand-your-ground” state since 2011.
The governor is expected to rule on the proposed bill sometime this Fall.
Nancy Thorne is founder and principal of Thorne Business Research. With more than 30 years experience as an information research and writing professional in small business, trade associations and large corporate environments. She has expertise in writing blog posts, articles, newsletters and reports for a diverse group of clients in a wide variety of industries. Prior to becoming an independent writer and information professional, Ms. Thorne held research and analytical positions with Bank of America and Citicorp and was a licensed teacher of English.