Minutes of the May 2007 General Membership Meeting

Missouri National Guard Armory, 2323 S. Crysler in Independence

The May 2007 general membership meeting of Western Missouri Shooters Alliance was called to order at 7:04 PM., with WMSA president Sheila Stokes-Begley conducting. The meeting began with the Pledge of Allegiance. 

Bob Hanson, WMSA treasurer, reported that the funds in the WMSA treasury currently stood at just over $10,000. 

In old business, Sheila said that WMSA is considering running more radio ads in smaller markets to aid in recruiting new WMSA members. Several possible radio stations were mentioned but no decisions have been reached as of this time. 

In new business, Sheila mentioned that there would be a gun show that will be held on the 16th and 17th of June in Kansas City and called on members in attendance to volunteer to help man the WMSA table. Several members in attendance kindly volunteered to help with this need. 

In other new business, it was noted that the new Castle Doctrine legislation has passed in the Missouri legislature and now awaits the signature of Governor Blunt. While the legislation did not include the “anywhere you are lawfully entitled to be” provisions which we had sought to have included, the new laws will significant improve the situation for law-abiding citizens who are forced to defend themselves when the citizen is in his or her home or vehicle. The new law also extends substantial protection from lawsuits that often follow in the aftermath of justifiable shootings of criminal perpetrators. In addition, with the new Castle Doctrine law, the irritating and unnecessary “Permit to Acquire” law, which for many years has required citizens to make a trip to their local county sheriff’s office to get a permit to purchase a handgun, was completely eliminated from the new law. These new provisions will become effective on the morning of August 28th, 2007. While as of the date of the membership meeting the new law has not been signed, Governor Blunt has pledged to do so. 

At the request of Sheila, past WMSA president, Kevin Jamison, stood to share his thoughts about the value of the new legislation. He said that we got about 90% of what gun-rights activists were hoping for with this new Castle Doctrine law. He noted that only two Missouri senators, Senators Bray and Justus, filibustered the bill in the senate but that was apparently enough to intimidate our senate leadership from engaging in legislative tactics which would have been more in our favor. Kevin said that the bottom line for citizens is that, when lethal force needs to be used against a bad guy, after the new law goes into effect, when the good guy or gal is at home, is in his or her car, or staying in any other place where he or she is spending the night, such as a tent or a hotel room, the innocent victim will no longer be required to attempt to retreat from the hostile actions of the perpetrator before potentially using lethal force to stop the attack. He said that, under current Missouri law, if a bad guy was to break into your home, you could shoot to stop him only when he was in the act of crossing the threshold of your home after unlawfully breaking in. If a homeowner were to fire at the perpetrator after he had already entered the home, the homeowner, despite being threatened with severe bodily injury, would be subject to being second-guessed by a prosecuting attorney and possibly arrested and prosecuted for defending himself or his family. Once the new Castle Doctrine law takes effect, should a homeowner find himself in this situation and need to shoot the perpetrator after the house has already been entered, the homeowner would be substantially protected from potential arrest by an over-zealous prosecutor. Kevin noted that the new law was considered to be an “absolute defense” law rather than the weaker “affirmative defense” law. The bottom line of this is apparently that the absolute defense provision of the new law makes it much less likely that a prosecutor could justify filing charges against the homeowner than could previously be done. 

Continuing, Kevin reminded those in attendance of the demise of the “Permit to Acquire” law and the benefits that would accrue to not having to play the “Sheriff, may I?” game any longer when it came to the desire to legally purchase a handgun in any Missouri county. Because of the elimination of the PTA requirements, Kevin told the membership that Adam Petrie, the young man who had instituted legal action in Jackson county against the Jackson county sheriff to force compliance with the current provisions of the PTA law, would not be pursuing appeal of the ruling against him to a higher court. Since the PTA law will be going away, it would be pointless to waste further time and money. 

Kevin also mentioned that during the recent NRA national convention in St. Louis, Governor Matt Blunt signed new legislation designed to protect law-abiding Missouri citizens from firearms confiscations by law enforcement during times of emergency. Kevin reminded those in attendance that during the aftermath of hurricane Katrina in New Orleans, law enforcement officials, in direct violation of the law, ordered the confiscations of firearms from people’s homes. This new law in Missouri, similar to what is being done in many other states, is designed to make a firm statement to law enforcement that confiscation of legally obtained and kept firearms during a future emergency will not be tolerated. Kevin also briefly mentioned the favorable court ruling in the District of Columbia that will allow residents of the district, who for long have been not permitted to possess guns for self-protection, to be able to once again protect themselves. Kevin said that this court ruling might very well be appealed and the possibility exists that the overturning of the D.C. gun ban may, at some point in the future, reach the U.S. Supreme Court. 

After the conclusion of Kevin Jamison’s thoughts, Sheila told members that a new raffle would be starting soon. Dennis Begley is kindly donating a new black powder pistol that can be won by the winning raffle ticket holder. Expect to receive a mailing soon containing tickets for the raffle that WMSA hopes that you will either buy yourselves or sell to your friends. Additional tickets may be obtained if you are willing and able to buy for yourself or to sell more of them. Remember that the proceeds of the raffles go to further the programs of WMSA and to help get candidates for political office elected who are friendly to the 2nd Amendment and to the rights of law-abiding firearms owners. 

Sheila called for the introduction of visitors and new members in attendance at the meeting. Our growing numbers of members strengthens us. We extend an invitation to our members or prospective members to come to our bi-monthly meetings in Independence and become an active part of WMSA! 

After new people were introduced, Sheila turned some time over to Independence police Sergeant John Bullard Jr., who spoke to the group on an informal basis. John stated that he is officially running again for the office of Jackson County Sheriff and mentioned that he had good success at a recent fund-raising event held in Independence. He said that over 200 people were in attendance and that over $11,000 in funds was raised to assist in his campaign. He told the group that, as of this time, it appears that he will have two other competitors running against him for sheriff. WMSA members, many of whom do live in Jackson County, are aware that John Bullard narrowly lost the last election to Tom Phillips, the current Jackson County Sheriff. Phillips has publicly stated that he will not be running for re-election so we hope that John Bullard, who WMSA endorsed in the last election, will have an easier time being elected in 2008. 

No further business appearing, Sheila adjourned the meeting at 8:11 P.M.