Minutes of the General Membership Meeting for January 2006

taken & submitted by Rory Marshall

General Membership Meeting Minutes of WMSA

January 17, 2006

Trails West Branch, KCPL

The January General Membership meeting of Western Missouri Shooters Alliance was called to order at 7:08 PM., with Sheila Stokes-Begley, WMSA Vice President, presiding and conducting the meeting.

The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Sheila Stokes-Begley. Bob Hanson, WMSA treasurer told those members in attendance that the current balance in the WMSA treasury was approximately six thousand dollars ($6,000.00). It was noted that the dues for WMSA membership have been increased to $25 per year, a slight, but very needed increase after being held at $20 for many years. Senior-aged membership dues will stay at the same low rate.

Sheila told those in attendance that grey magnetic 2^nd Amendment magnets have been ordered and will be available soon for sale at area gun shows. Speaking of gun shows, Sheila said that there would be a gun show the weekend of January 27^th through 29^th in the Harrisonville area and located at the Elks lodge building near Missouri 291 highway in Cass county. She requested that any members who were willing to help staff the WMSA booth at the show to make it known. Several members volunteered to help.

The topic shifted to the upcoming Missouri legislative session and the fact that several firearms-related bills have been introduced for consideration. There are two known versions of the so-called “castle doctrine” legislation, which was recently made law in the state of Florida, that have been submitted. We are hopeful that this legislation will pass in the state of Missouri, allowing law-abiding citizens to stand their ground when confronted by the threat of lethal force being used against them. Currently, Missouri law generally requires the innocent person to attempt to flee an onslaught by the bad guy. If this law passes, it would allow a Missouri citizen to resist a felon’s attempt to harm him or her without the need for the citizen to flee, thus potentially subjecting the citizen to further risk of injury. Further, the Florida law prohibits the felon or his family members from filing civil lawsuits against a law-abiding citizen who is compelled to use lethal force to protect him or herself. This proposed “castle doctrine” bill in Missouri would, if passed, confer the same immunity from these nuisance, but expensive lawsuits, to Missouri citizens.

There has also been submitted to the legislature a bill to eliminate the currently existing “permit to acquire” handgun law. Since handgun purchases are already subject to the Federal NICS check, the use of the PTA law has become irrelevant and we believe that the inconvenience and expense that it presents Missouri citizens should be eliminated.

On the negative side of things, our opposition has also submitted a few bills. One would outlaw the carrying of concealed weapons by Missouri citizens who do not possess Missouri-issued permits. Thus, if this bill were to become law, out-of-state permits currently held by Missouri citizens would no longer be valid in Missouri. WMSA remains firmly against this change. It is not expected that this bill will advance out of committee during this legislative year. There is also a bill which has been introduced which would make it a felony for people in Missouri to use potentially less-than-lethal means of protection such as so-called “stun guns” or Tazer devices. Finally, we are aware that there is legislation being proposed which would make it a crime for a law-abiding citizen to have a loaded and ready-for-use gun available in his or her own home. We at WMSA consider this a very bad idea—at the very time one needs to have a gun available to defend one’s self, a law making the homeowner a criminal for keeping a gun at-the-ready for self-protection seems nonsensical. There are other ways to protect children from injury by lawfully owned firearms kept in homes without the need to keep the weapon totally unavailable for quick use should it be needed to defend the homeowner and his or her family members.

All present were reminded that our annual Gun Rights Rally day would be held this year in Jefferson City on the 23^rd of February. It is anticipated that WMSA will charter a bus for transportation to the rally. Members were told that historically, the bus has left the “park and ride” lot near the now-defunct Blue Ridge mall shopping center at 6:00 A.M. on the day of the rally. The WMSA website at www.wmsa.net will have contact information for those desiring to purchase a bus ticket for this trip.

The annual election for WMSA board of directors was held next. A motion was made from the membership floor to retain the board of directors as it is currently constituted. The motion was seconded and a voice vote was taken. It appeared that there was unanimous support from the members in attendance to retain the board for 2006.

Mr. J.K. Chester and Mr. Jack Ford were introduced at the meeting as prizewinners of the recently held raffle ticket drawing. Mr. Chester will be the recipient of the carbine and Mr. Ford will receive the cartridge belt with cartridges. WMSA thanks them and all other who participated in the raffle.

As a final item, it was noted that the library where our meetings are held have submitted notice that, going forward, the library will close at 8:00 P.M. Since there are some occasions where our meetings have lasted longer than one hour, members in attendance were asked to submit the names of locations that might be suitable as an evening meeting place for WMSA general membership meetings. Several possible places were suggested. All members in attendance and those reading these minutes are invited to contact a member of the board of directors if you are aware of a facility that might be willing to allow us the use of a private meeting room on their property. We would strongly prefer a location that would permit the use of their room without a financial charge. Please watch the website for possible changes in meeting location. It is not anticipated that there will be any change in the meeting location for the next regularly scheduled meeting in March.

No further business appearing, the meeting was adjourned at 7:43 P.M