Last night the House Special Committee on General Laws conducted hearings on Representative Brian Munzlinger's HB911... a bill to repeal Sections 571.080 and 571.090 [among others].

This bill, if passed, would REPEAL [aka... do away with] Missouri's Permit To Acquire [PTA] a concealable firearm law. In other words, if passed, you would still have NICS done on any handgun purchase made through the holder of a Federal Firearm License [FFL] but if you bought a gun from an individual you would NOT need to go get a permit from your sheriff.

Several people testified in favor of the bill or some level of PTA reform including an 18 year old female marksman, myself, Kevin Jamison, Derek Ward and a few others.

Speaking in opposition was a representative of the Missouri Sheriff's Association which took the position that repealing the PTA would mean the legislature supported gun possession by drug dealers, murderers and all manner of low-life miscreants. Interestingly, one of the justifications to retain the PTA was a reverse sting operation that was conducted to catch those who sell guns without PTA to non-allowed individuals [felons, etc...].

A many month investigation netted a individual conducting these illegal sales who just happened to be a law enforcement officer? And that means we need PTA???

A representative of some Children's Organization also spoke out against stating that repeal of this necessary public safety measure would endanger Missouri's children by allowing them to legally purchase handguns. Don't bother talking to her about her logic....

WHAT REPEAL WILL NOT DO

Contrary to some misconceptions, repeal of PTA will NOT make it legal for convicted felons to buy and sell concealable firearms. It is ILLEGAL for them to POSSESS them! EVEN IF repeal occurs, a disqualified individual STILL will not be able to LEGALLY buy, trade, loan, lease or whatever a concealable firearm.

If you KNOWINGLY lend, or give or lease or whatever a concealable firearm to a disqualified individual [felon, etc...] YOU CAN STILL be charged with a crime too.

NO ACTION ON PTA THIS YEAR

Last night's hearing will NOT result in a repeal of PTA this year. The hearing was the first step in a long process that really will not get started till next year. With that in mind, do NOT get overly excited or impatient. We must continue to be patient and move ANY legislation carefully and wisely.

It will be a long shot to pull off a complete repeal but there is every indication that next year we could accomplish some serious and much needed clean-up/reform.