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Winding its way through the General Assembly is a noxious concealed-carry bill that blatantly thwarts the wishes of Missouri voters and ominously poses threats to public safety. Proponents of the bill will dispute our description of the measure. Don't believe them. [Of course those in favor of self-defense are disputing these lies and distortions and omissions of fact. Who should be believed?]

Renewed interest in making the concealing and carrying of weapons lawful in Missouri is also proof that the National Rifle Association wasn't kidding when it vowed to return after the humiliating defeat of the Proposition B referendum by the voters.

The NRA spent heavily on Missouri lawmakers and ad campaigns for approval of the proposition. The voters' rejection of Proposition B sent a loud and clear message to the NRA and to state lawmakers. Unfortunately, some people are purposefully hard of hearing.

House Bill 853, the concealed-carry bill by Rep. Wayne Crump of Potosi, passed 9-1 in the Special Committee on Sportsmanship, Safety and Firearms. What's next? A Special Committee on Driving Drunk, Gambling Excessively and Legalized Bribery? [Ed. talk about noxious statements]

Despite this legislative amen chorus (also known as the committee), HB 853 did meet citizen opposition. Among them was Kansas City Mayor Pro Tem Alvin Brooks, who has a deserved reputation as crime fighter and victims' advocate. Brooks testified before the committee against this bill. So did representatives of the Million Mom March, the national movement that took its gun-control crusade to Capitol Hill on Mother's Day.

But their testimony was no match for those of the NRA, which testified before the committee on behalf of the bill. [Uhn, how about the WMSA, MPS, SACMO and other grassroots Missouri groups?  This is citizen support, purveyor of ugly inventive. How many NRA employees testified?]

You can see where this is headed: Gov. Bob Holden is likely to find a concealed-carry bill on his desk.

Using Texas as a model, Missourians can look forward to the following if concealed-carry becomes law. In 1995, then-Texas Gov. George W. Bush signed legislation that repealed the 125-year-old ban on concealed carry.

The Los Angeles Times reported last year that some 215,000 Texans became licensed to carry concealed weapons, including 400 [< 0.5%, if true] who had prior criminal convictions. Furthermore, 3,000 licensees were since arrested for crimes such as double murder and drunken driving. Prior convictions included rape, armed robbery and law violations tied to mental disorders, drug and alcohol use. [...and the NCPA report shows the falsity of the Latta reporting]

The Times also reported that even felons, supposedly prohibited under federal law from possessing firearms, were able to obtain concealed-carry permits in Texas. Proponents of concealed-carry in Missouri will insist that won't happen here. But that's what was said about the bill in Texas before it became law, too.

When Bush signed the bill, he said it would make Texas "a safer place." It's what is being said in Missouri right now, too. This is not a model that Missourians should seek to emulate.

Missourians made the state safer when they rejected Proposition B. Now lawmakers are trying to undo their good intentions.

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