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General Laws hears slew of gun bills

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo — The House Committee on General Laws heard four separate pieces of legislation dealing with firearms today.

The first bill was presented by sponsor Rep. Jeanie Riddle, R-Fulton. Her bill, which applies to publicly-funded housing, would prohibit a landlord from forbidding or restricting the firearms of their tenants. 49 Riddle

“This bill specifies that a lessor cannot prohibit a lessee from possessing firearms within an individual residence or from carrying or and transporting firearms to and from the residence in a manner allowed by law,” she said. “Where some people may have a choice of where they live, others may not.”

The second bill, House Bill 1591, ponsored by Rep. Wanda Brown, R-Lincoln, would allow large group instruction for firearm safety courses, provided that there is at least one instructor for every 40 participants.

Rep. Mike Kelley, R-Lamar, sponsored HB 1539 and offered it to the committee.

The bill changes the requirements to demonstrate proficiency with firearms in order to qualify for a CCW permit.  Currently, someone seeking to be certified must show proficiency in loading and unloading both semi-automatic and revolver pistols, and is subjected to a live firing exercise. Kelley’s bill would allow an applicant to demonstrate proficiency with either one or the other, at their discretion, instead of both.127 Kelley

Kelley explained the difference in having to be certified for both types of firearms, “You can get a license to drive an automatic car and still get behind a manual transmission, which is very different.”

The final bill that was heard in committee pertaining to guns was House Bill 1474.  The bill is sponsored by Rep. Rick Brattin, R-Harrisonville, and is an effort to allow any school district to designate one or more elementary or secondary school teachers or administrators as a school protection officer, whose responsibilities and duties are voluntary and must be in addition to his or her normal responsibilities and duties.  The funding to make this teacher into an officer would be provided by the school district. The designated protection officer would be permitted to carry a weapon at school, provided they meet all requirements of existing statute.

“This is just a way to protect our children” Brattin, told the committee.55 Brattin

Britain went on to provide an example citing the DARE program, “A D.A.R.E. officer comes to your class and teaches while carrying a sidearm”

As of right now, teachers in Missouri are allowed to carry a concealed weapon, but this bill would allow schools to designate these teachers as officers. Whitney O’Daniel was on hand for the NRA to speak in favor of all four bills.  No witness testified in opposition.