Concealed weapons bill passes House

As the issue of allowing private citizens to carry concealed weapons again comes in focus in the Missouri General Assembly, it is a matter on which there is some disagreement among local law enforcement.

A bill introduced by State Rep. Larry Crawford, R-California, has passed the House and is now in Senate committee that would allow citizens to carry concealed weapons. The House approved the measure by an overwhelming 108-33 vote.

Governor Bob Holden has indicated he will veto the bill if it is approved in its current form. He noted Missouri voters turned down Proposition B in 1999 and the present legislation would not take the issue back to the voters.

The bill restricts who could have a concealed weapon and where such weapons could be carried. No one with a felony conviction could obtain a permit, nor could anyone who has been convicted of a misdemeanor involving violence in the previous five years.

Everyone who seeks a permit would have to take an eight-hours of gun safety training and also undergo a background check. The permits issued through the Sheriff's Department would cost $100 and would be good for three years.

Even those with a permit could not carry a concealed weapon to casinos, bars, schools, child care facilities, prisons, police stations, courthouses and a number of other facilities. Members of the House and Senate would be allowed to carry concealed weapons in the chambers of those two legislative bodies.

Another provision of the bill is that anyone the age of 21 or over would be allowed to carry a concealed weapon in a motor vehicle without a permit unless they are otherwise banned from having such a weapon.

Sheriff Dan Bullock of St. Francois County, a gun rights advocate, said his only concern with the concealed weapons legislation is that it again puts the burden of issuing permits on local sheriffs. It is a task he believes should rest with another agency.

The bill does require the sheriffs to submit permits to the Highway Patrol for background checks, but if no response is received from the patrol within 45 days, the permit must be issued.

Chief Rick Baker of the Farmington Police Department said it is out of his concern for officer safety as well as the public's safety that he opposes the concealed weapons legislation.

"There are enough illegal guns on the streets, now," Baker said.

The chief said background checks do not detect personality problems, nor even a person's possible treatment for mental illness. There are conditions beyond what are covered in the legislation that should be considered when allowing a person to carry a concealed weapon.

Of even more concern with Baker is the fact that upstanding citizens might use a weapon in a stressful situation if they have it readily available. Having a gun is "an opportunity to make a major mistake," the chief said.

"I don't feel having a concealed weapon will make them safer," Baker said. On the contrary, if more people are carrying guns, then I think it will make it more dangerous."

Chief Fred Mallow of Bonne Terre disagrees. He said those states that have adopted laws allowing citizens to carry concealed weapons have benefited. He cited Texas where the crime rate dropped after such legislation was enacted.

"It works," Mallow said, "and I think it should be adopted in Missouri."

Chief Bill Holloway of Park Hills also supports the concealed weapons legislation for reasons similar to those of Mallow. He said if people can own weapons they should be able to carry them.

"I don't think it is a threat to the public," Holloway said. "In states that have passed it, it has not been a problem."

Also supporting the concept is Chief James Bullock of the Desloge Police Department. He said it does not create concern for him.

"Not just anyone should be allowed to carry a weapon," the Desloge chief said, "but background checks would take care of that."

James Bullock said he believes the restrictions regarding training and certification in the measure are ample, as well as the restrictions as to where firearms could be carried concealed.

Chief Cledith Wakefield of Leadington joins Baker among the dissenters on this issue. He is concerned about officer safety and public safety and believes the current firearms laws are sufficient.

"People can carry firearms now as long as they are not concealed," Wakefield pointed out. "People don't need to be carrying concealed weapons. The world is too violent as it is."

Although law enforcement officers are now allowed to carry concealed weapons while off duty, a significant proportion of them choose not to. Several said they do not feel particularly safer when they carry a concealed weapon when off duty and even find it a little awkward.

State Rep. Kevin Engler, R-Farmington, supports the concealed weapons legislation and voted for it in the House.

"Being able to carry a concealed weapon has been shown to provide great deterrence for criminals, thus lowering victimization rates overall," Engler said. "This legislation forces no one to carry a weapon, yet it also gives honest citizens the sense of security that they can protect themselves when in harm. It is time Missouri follows in the footsteps of other states and move this legislation from simply an idea into state law."