On Monday, the Missouri House approved a bill that would allow concealed carry permit holders to carry firearms on public buses and inside churches and other places of worship. This will gradually work to eliminate the list of locations where concealed carry permit holders are not allowed to carry their guns.
Democrats criticized the legislation, saying it would broaden Missouri’s already loose gun laws as the state sees high rates of gun violence in the state’s urban areas.
The bill is sponsored by Rep. Adam Schnelting, a St. Charles Republican, and would allow people with concealed carry permits to have guns on public transit.
“We all have the potential of running into situations where we have to utilize self defense to protect ourselves and those we love,” Schnelting siad. “This legislation will discourage criminal activity on our public transportation systems, but most importantly, it will ensure that we maintain our constitutional right to self defense.”
Firearms in Churches and Places of Worship
The bill also includes an amendment proposed by Republican Rep. Ben Baker that would also allow people with permits to carry guns in churches and other places of worship. Churches could still prohibit guns by placing signage that states firearms are not allowed.
Doug Alpert is a rabbi in Kansas City and said there is no reason to have guns in places of worship, and that the bill would only increase the likelihood of shootings in places like synagogues, which already face threats and violence.
“We’ve all had to raise our security profile and it’s something that I would rather not do for my synagogue, but I have to do it,” Alpert said. “And this would only make it worse.”
Concealed Carry Permit Holders
William Bland, a member of the Western Missouri Shooters Alliance, told The Kansas City Star Monday that concealed carry permit holders are among the most law abiding citizens, and the inability to carry a gun on a bus makes people more vulnerable.
“We have gone through so much in order to obtain that permit,” Bland said. “We’re very careful about it. We’ve been trained, so I don’t see the opposition.”
Crimes on public transportation are certainly not a recent development. In January, a four-time felon attempted to rob a concealed carry holder on a Chicago train. Of all the possible takeaways from this story, perhaps the most important is the need for training, as William Bland noted.
More than 150 people submitted testimony in favor of the bill when it was in the House Emerging Issues Committee earlier this month. Most supporters cited the need to protect themselves from potential criminals on buses.
Kimberly Cella is the executive director of the Missouri Public Transit Association. She told The Kansas City Star that allowing guns on public transit would seriously jeopardize federal funding.
Cella said there is no proof that more guns make transit safer, and she said it puts staff members like bus drivers in more danger.
“What we’re saying is if we impair the ability of transit providers to deliver service by passage of CCW in transit, we’re really going to impact the state’s bottom line as well,” Cella said.
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Everytime I walk into church with a building where I know most people have been disarmed I am a little nervous. Like the disarmed people of Lawrence Kansas during the USCW.
Government really ought to stop meddling with churches. It’s non of government’s business if a church allows carrying or not.
Isn’t St. Louis frequently cited as some kind of murder capital? More guns in more places seem a bit counter-intuitive to fight that kind of crime. What a wonderful way to celebrate Michael Brown’s legacy.
And for the dummest post of the morning, so far. Congratulations bluedouche it/clown on yet another stupid post.
We recently lost first place to New Orleans but with the destruction of our DA’s office by our George Soros sponsored District Attorney, Kim Gardner, we may be able to get it back. Or Maybe not – the Missouri Attorney General is about replace her function with a special prosecutor because she refuses to enforce the law and is completely incompetent.
Have you read Michael Brown’s juvenile record? No, because it is still under seal. Brown was a thug. On the day of his death, he had gotten high smoking dope with his friends. Apparently not stoned enough, they proceeded to a convenience store and committed a strong–arm robbery to acquire materials to make more “blunts.” On their return, they were walking in the street instead of sidewalk which drew the attention of Officer Wilson. Brown forced his way into Wilson’s vehicle through the window and attempted to steal the police officer’s sidearm. In that struggle the handgun fired but fortunately did not strike anyone, only putting a hole in the vehicle. Brown then began to flee and officer Wilson pursued. After a very short distance, Brown turned and charged at Officer Wilson. Brown was much larger than Wilson and already demonstrated a propensity to cause serious bodily harm or death when attempting to steal the handgun. Wilson’s only reasonable choice was to defend his life against being physically overwhelmed by a more powerful assailant. It would be generous to Brown to even call it a “suicide by cop.” That’s what really happened. I’m your sure your belief is based on the grossly distorted versions broadcast on the national news.
Conspiracy theories, disinformation, and talking points of disinformation.
Shuddup you groomer.
You’re a loony .
How can someone be so stupid? It’s amazing how easy some people are drawn to the kool aid.
Do not bothering wondering why you cannot remember the last time BD posted on some gun grabbing scheme that has gone to far. BD had not and will not take such a position. BD is all in with the all sweeping ban in Washington state and he turns a blind eye toward Jay Bob Pritzker’s banning of .22 rifles in IL.
Now, Kane. Even Thomas Jefferson believed that cities should be able to require its citizens not keep arms in city limits. Chicago is an extreme example but what works for Chicago doesn’t necessarily work in Grapevine or St. Louis. Federalism means that states and cities are the labs of democracy. We see what promotes the public safety at the local level before trying them on the national level.
Okay groomer, sure thing.
See what I mean? BD acts like things are going so well in Chicago that national policies should be formed by what those fools in that wet market lab room decide. At the same time BD stands down when Jay Bob Pritzker wants to make owning a Ruger 10/22 a felony in the state on IL.
“Let your gun therefore be your constant companion of your walks.” ― Thomas Jefferson
I Missouri, we don’t celebrate criminals.