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MO: Lobbyists Hard at Work on Concealed Weapons
Josey1
Member Posts: 9,598 ✭✭
Lobbyists Hard at Work on Concealed Weapons
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With just two weeks to go before Missouri's legislative veto session, special interest groups are pressing lawmakers hard, hoping to sway votes on both side of the concealed weapons issue.
The issue has come up in the legislature for years, but this may be the year the pro-gun lobby sees the issue through to passage - if they have the votes.
The orginal bill in the legislature was vetoed by Governor Holden right. Now, members of the Missouri Senate and House believe they may have the two-thirds majority in each chamber to carry the veto override and pass a concealed weapons law.
The Second Amendment Coalition of Missouri is working the phones, urging voters to contact House and Senate members, and working long hours to lobby legislators they believe could make the difference in the vote.
On the other side of the issue, the religious-based group Missouri Impact believes only bad can come from people having the right to carry a concealed firearm.
Webster County Sheriff Ron Worsham, whose mostly-rural county lies just to the east of Springfield, welcomes a concealed weapons law. Worsham says it may put some fear in criminals about just who is armed and who isn't. "The persons that are carrying them now, are doing it illegally," believes Worsham. "Most of those are the people that cause us the problems to start with. I would be glad to see some folks out there, carrying concealed, that we're on my side, instead of the other side."
Springfield's police department officially takes the opposite view. Police administrators say it won't make their jobs any easier; " Most police departments are not in favor of that, because they don't know what their dealing with," argues department spokesman Officer Matt Brown. "They don't know if the person they're meeting, if they have a wepaon on them or not. It's a matter of safety. It's a meter of that officer going home to his family that night."
State senator Dan Clemens, (R-Marshfield) who's a co-sponsor of the measure, says 23-votes are needed in the senate to overide the veto, but he remains confident this is the year for a concealed carry law.
The concealed weapons bill requires people to complete gun handling and safety classes before a permit would be issued. "I think there's a lot of people that are really interested in concealed carry, that probably won't go to school," admits Clemons. "But they sure want that right, if they want to."
Legislators will meet September 10 in Jefferson City for the veto session.
http://www.kolr10.com/Global/story.asp?S=1418051&nav=0RXJHfat
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878<P>
Email to a Friend
Printer Friendly Version
With just two weeks to go before Missouri's legislative veto session, special interest groups are pressing lawmakers hard, hoping to sway votes on both side of the concealed weapons issue.
The issue has come up in the legislature for years, but this may be the year the pro-gun lobby sees the issue through to passage - if they have the votes.
The orginal bill in the legislature was vetoed by Governor Holden right. Now, members of the Missouri Senate and House believe they may have the two-thirds majority in each chamber to carry the veto override and pass a concealed weapons law.
The Second Amendment Coalition of Missouri is working the phones, urging voters to contact House and Senate members, and working long hours to lobby legislators they believe could make the difference in the vote.
On the other side of the issue, the religious-based group Missouri Impact believes only bad can come from people having the right to carry a concealed firearm.
Webster County Sheriff Ron Worsham, whose mostly-rural county lies just to the east of Springfield, welcomes a concealed weapons law. Worsham says it may put some fear in criminals about just who is armed and who isn't. "The persons that are carrying them now, are doing it illegally," believes Worsham. "Most of those are the people that cause us the problems to start with. I would be glad to see some folks out there, carrying concealed, that we're on my side, instead of the other side."
Springfield's police department officially takes the opposite view. Police administrators say it won't make their jobs any easier; " Most police departments are not in favor of that, because they don't know what their dealing with," argues department spokesman Officer Matt Brown. "They don't know if the person they're meeting, if they have a wepaon on them or not. It's a matter of safety. It's a meter of that officer going home to his family that night."
State senator Dan Clemens, (R-Marshfield) who's a co-sponsor of the measure, says 23-votes are needed in the senate to overide the veto, but he remains confident this is the year for a concealed carry law.
The concealed weapons bill requires people to complete gun handling and safety classes before a permit would be issued. "I think there's a lot of people that are really interested in concealed carry, that probably won't go to school," admits Clemons. "But they sure want that right, if they want to."
Legislators will meet September 10 in Jefferson City for the veto session.
http://www.kolr10.com/Global/story.asp?S=1418051&nav=0RXJHfat
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878<P>
Comments
"I have a philosophical problem with conceal and carry."
-- Governor Bob Holden
This year the Missouri Legislature passed Right-to-Carry (HB 349) and Frivolous Lawsuit Preemption (SB 13) with overwhelming support from both parties. Yet, Governor Bob Holden vetoed both bills. Holden's vetoes have stopped Missourians from being able to protect themselves and their families outside the home, and allowed St. Louis and other Missouri cities to continue to sue gun manufactures for the acts of criminals who misuse their products.
Regardless of Holden's anti-gun antics, Missouri's Constitution allows the legislature to override a governor's veto. On September 10-11, 2003, the Legislature will take action to override Holden's wrongful actions, and before then, they need to hear from you!
Take These Steps Today!
Call/Write your legislators and urge them to support the override of Gov. Holden's vetoes of HB 349 and SB 13
Write letters to the editor
Encourage your family, friends and fellow gun owners to do the same
Download a flyer and distribute at your local gun club
Remember to thank your legislators if they voted for these bills
http://www.nra.org/frame.cfm?title=NRA Institute for Legislative Action&url=http://www.nraila.org
"If cowardly and dishonorable men sometimes shoot unarmed men with army pistols or guns, the evil must be prevented by the penitentiary and gallows, and not by a general deprivation of a constitutional privilege." - Arkansas Supreme Court, 1878<P>
Typos and profanity, oh my! http://www.funky-town.org
And the Springfield cop who said he is against CCW for the officer's safety is a liar and he knows it. He and the Springfield police chief are both liars or stupid or both.
Bruce