Firearms teacher can't get permit
And then little Tommy P. explained "If I stick my fingers in my ears and sing REALLY loud, I can't hear what that mean old judge is telling me, so then I don't have to do it! I don't care if the taxpayers have to shell out big time, I STILL get my way, and after all, I'm Tommy and you're not, so that's what matters!".---fictitious amusement by the Webmistress
May. 09, 2005
The problem began in April, when Moore didn't bring a firearms safety training course certificate with his application. The certificate indicates that the applicant has mastered aspects of gun ownership, such as marksmanship and gun storage.
Moore argued that he didn't need to bring the certificate because he has been a National Rifle Association instructor for 12 years. He said the law backed him up.
“It's funny that the students I teach can get a permit, but I can't,” he said.
Instead, Moore said, he brought paperwork indicating he was an NRA instructor who was qualified in pistol marksmanship and personal protection.
However, sheriff's Capt. Phil Moran said Missouri law required all applicants to submit the certificate — including firearms instructors.
“There's nothing in the law that gives them a free pass,” Moran said.
He used the analogy of law professors. They must pass the bar exam if they want to practice law, Moran said.
But Moore argued that he had to pass gun-safety tests to become a firearms instructor.
Sheriff offices in Cass, Clay and Platte counties said they don't require firearms instructors to submit a signed certificate in addition to paperwork that indicates they're certified instructors.
In April, two firearms instructors successfully sued the Jackson County Sheriff's Office in small-claims court, alleging it had overstepped its authority when it asked them to bring the safety certificates.
Gary Davis, one of the complainants, said he submitted the paperwork indicating he was an NRA instructor.
“We were in there and out in five to six minutes with a court order,” Davis said. “I don't know if they didn't read the law or didn't understand what they read.”
The court ordered the Sheriff's Office to accept the instructors' applications.
But sheriff's official Moran added that Davis' court case doesn't waive the requirements for other applicants like Moore. He said it applied only to the complainants.
Moran added that firearms instructors could make it easier for themselves if they signed the safety certificate for each other.
But Moore and others said that would be perjury. The certificate indicates that providing false information is a Class C misdemeanor.
“Under no circumstances should they do it,” said Kevin Jamison, Davis' attorney and a board member for the Western Missouri Shooters Alliance. “The law is clear enough.”
Davis said he knew at least a dozen NRA instructors, including Moore, who were miffed at having their applications turned away.
As for Moore, he acknowledged that it would be easy to take another safety class, but he refused.
“It's the principle of the thing.”
To reach Linda Man, courts and police reporter for The Star, call (816) 234-7809 or send e-mail to lman@kcstar.com.