General Membership Meeting Minutes of WMSA

March 21, 2006

Trails West Branch, KCPL

The March 2006 General Membership meeting of Western Missouri Shooters Alliance was called to order at 7:13 PM., with Sheila Stokes-Begley, WMSA president, presiding and conducting the meeting.

The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance led by Sheila Stokes-Begley. Afterwards, the minutes of the January 17^th meeting were read and approved as read by those in attendance.

Bob Hanson, WMSA treasurer, told those members in attendance that the current balance in the WMSA treasury was approximately ten thousand dollars ($10,000.00). He said that the legal defense fund sent back approximately $1,600.00 to WMSA which was added to the balance. He reminded members that since 2006 is an election year, much of the funds that currently reside in the treasury would be given to candidates for elective office who support the goals of Western Missouri Shooters Alliance.

After the treasurer’s report, Sheila introduced Mr. Jeffrey Cox, an attorney who practices law in Cass County and who is running as the Republican candidate for county prosecutor this year. Mr. Cox reminded those in attendance that the current prosecutor, Democrat Teresa Hensley, was appointed to the position by former Missouri governor Bob Holden and has never been officially elected. As a lifelong supporter of the right to keep and bear arms, Mr. Cox told the membership that he is a Life Member of the NRA as well as a member of Gun Owners of America. He assured us that he did not come to support the RKBA simply because of which way the current political winds are blowing. After Mr. Cox finished his remarks, he fielded a few general questions from the membership.

Mr. Cox told members that he was a supporter of the so-called “Vermont style” carry laws, meaning that he would be in favor of law-abiding gun owners carrying concealed without having to resort to a permit to do so. He said that a few years ago when he was in Australia, he saw how gun registration by that government lead to gun confiscation. He further said that, in his experience, most rank-and-file law enforcement officers are in favor of concealed carry by lawful citizens but that their bosses often oppose it because it is not politically correct for them to do so with the elected officials to whom they must answer. Mr. Cox also stated that he was very much in favor of the “Castle Doctrine” legislation that has been introduced into the Missouri legislature and would like to see it become law in Missouri. If you’d like more information about Jeff Cox and/or would like to support him, you are invited to visit his web site at http://jeffreycox.com .

After the conclusion of Mr. Cox’s remarks, Sheila again brought up the need to find an alternate place to hold the WMSA general membership meetings. It was noted that some contacts have been made and are still being made in an attempt to locate another suitable place for us to meet. No decisions have been made as of yet.

On another topic, Sheila noted that approximately two hundred people were present in Jefferson City for this year’s gun rights rally and that it was a big success.

Mention was also made that the Elks lodge in Harrisonville will be holding a gun show at the Cass County Elks Lodge, 2402 North M 291 Highway, on March 31st, April 1st and 2nd. The hours on Friday are from 5:00-9:00 PM, Saturday from 8:00 AM-6:00 PM and Sunday from 8:00 AM-3:00 PM. Several individuals in attendance kindly volunteered to staff WMSA’s table at this upcoming gun show.

Sheila said that, since some people in Cass county were not able to make it to our regular membership meetings, consideration is being given to holding “re-cap meetings” in Harrisonville on a later date to help accommodate the needs of these members. Watch the website at www.wmsa.net for further information.

Robert Laplante from Lee’s Summit was introduced. It was his first time in attendance at our meetings. He said that he had received a complimentary copy of our newsletter, “The Bullet”, in the mail and decided to attend our meeting. We welcome him and invite other members of the metro area to come to our meetings, join WMSA and help support our goals.

Bob Brannock, newsletter coordinator for WMSA, requested that if people were able to assist him with preparing each month’s newsletter for mailing, he would be very appreciative. If you can help, please email Bob Hanson, our treasurer/newsletter editor at editor@wmsa.net and he will get the message to Bob Brannock that you’d be willing to help. Please include contact information so that we can get back to you.

No further business appearing, Sheila adjourned the meeting at 7:57 P.M.