NEWS RELEASE
CITIZENS COMMITTEE APPLAUDS MISSOURI
SENATE FOR VETO OVERRIDE
BELLEVUE, WA—The Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep
and Bear Arms (CCRKBA) is proud of the Missouri Senate for
overriding Gov. Bob Holden's ill-considered veto of concealed
carry legislation, thus greatly expanding the ability of
Missouri citizens to defend themselves from violent crime.
"Twenty-three courageous Missouri state senators stood
firm against pressure from extremist anti-gun groups and the
media to enhance the right of every law-abiding Missourian to
protect themselves and their families," said CCRKBA
Chairman Alan Gottlieb. "Today's vote is a significant
victory for public safety and personal security, and a defeat
for the alarmists who would leave Missouri citizens at the
mercy of predatory criminals."
The 23 to 10 override vote will make Missouri the 36th
state to adopt a sensible right-to-carry law, Gottlieb noted.
He especially congratulated Sen. Jon Dolan (R-Lake Saint
Louis) for making the exceptional effort to return to
Jefferson City on leave from his military duty in Cuba, to
vote in support of his constituents' self-defense rights. At
the same time, Gottlieb chided Missouri Democratic Party
spokesman Mike Kelley for calling Dolan's return "an
absolute outrage."
"Jon Dolan obviously understands his duty to the
security of his country, and to the security of his
constituents," Gottlieb stated. "The true outrage is
that anti-gun-rights Missouri Democrats would consider it
acceptable for a member of the military, who is also an
elected official, to be prevented from voting on a critical
issue because he is serving the nation. It is reminiscent of
efforts Democrats mounted three years ago to prevent
servicemen and women from having their votes counted in the
presidential election.
"I cannot imagine a more important issue for Sen.
Dolan's critical vote," Gottlieb continued.
"Homeland Security takes many forms, whether it is
sending soldiers to defend our nation's interests, or
providing the means for law-abiding Americans to be secure
right here at home. The 'right to keep and bear arms' is
America's original Homeland Security, and self-defense is a
basic human right. Sen. Dolan and 22 of his colleagues
understand this, but anti-gun rights Democrats do not.
"Missourians should thank those members of the House
and Senate whose votes prove they trust their constituents
with the right of self-defense," Gottlieb concluded.
"On the other hand, Missouri voters should remember those
lawmakers who voted against their personal security at the
next election."
With more than 650,000 members and supporters nationwide,
the Citizens Committee for the Right to Keep and Bear Arms is
one of the nation's premier gun rights organizations. As a
non-profit organization, the Citizens Committee is dedicated
to preserving firearms freedoms through active lobbying of
elected officials and facilitating grass-roots organization of
gun rights activists in local communities throughout the
United States.
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