Here is the e-mail reply I received from the Jackson County Sheriffs' Department:

Thank you for your inquiry about accepting applications for the CCW permits. Attached, I have added a press release that I released yesterday in regard to your question. I hope that it clarifies things for you.

If you have further questions or would like to speak to someone about the possibility of taking applications next week, please contact myself or Captain Phil Moran at Ext. 210.

Have a good day!

Deputy Ronda Montgomery
Public Information Officer
Jackson County MO Sheriff's Office
3310 NE Rennau Drive
Lee's Summit, MO 64064-2100
816-524-4302 Ext. 256
Fax 816-524-4340

MEDIA INFORMATION REPORT

JACKSON COUNTY, MO SHERIFF’S OFFICE

TO: All Media                                                                DATE: 02-26-04

FROM: Deputy Ronda Montgomery                           TIME: 4:15 p.m.
Public Information Officer

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Subject: Supreme Court of Missouri’s Concealed Carry Opinion

We received information today that the Missouri Supreme Court ruled that it was constitutional for citizens to have the right to carry concealed firearms. However, there were four exceptions to their ruling which they felt did violate the Hancock Amendment - meaning that this was another unfunded mandate passed down by the State Legislatures. The four exceptions were for Camden County, Cape Girardeau County, Green County and Jackson County, because they were the four counties that presented evidence that this violated the Hancock Amendment. The court’s decision allowed the Sheriff of those counties to choose whether or not to issue permits based on the lack of funding for staffing to be able to process the permits.

Sheriff Phillips will be going in front of the Jackson County Legislatures on Monday, March 1st, 2004 again asking for funding. This is in accordance with the court’s ruling that a governing body can elect to voluntarily fund the costs from other county revenues. The Sheriff will make a presentation to the County Legislatures to help try and find funds so that the concealed carry applications can be accepted and the permits issued.

Until the Sheriff meets with the Jackson County Legislature and the funding can be evaluated, the Jackson County, Missouri Sheriff’s Office will not begin accepting applications or issuing concealed carry permits.

Media: For those of you interested in scheduling an interview with Sheriff Phillips, he will be available tomorrow (February 27th) morning. To make an appointment to do so, contact me at 816-524-4302 Ext. 256.



Deputy Ronda Montgomery