MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG
Mo. Digital News
Missouri Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Mo. Digital News
MDN.ORG:
Missouri Digital News
JEFFERSON CITY - Missouri's House voted overwhelmingly Tuesday (May 13) to let Missourian vote on whether they should have the right to carry concealed weapons. But the House vote may have been an exercise in futility.
The Senate sponsor of the bill said he would not allow a Senate vote on the issue when the bill returns to his chamber.
Although supporting concealed-weapons rights, Sen. Peter Kinder, R-Cape Girardeau, said has made a commitment to his Senate colleagues not bring the volatile issue onto the Senate floor.
The House "voted the way I would have voted were I a free agent, but I gave my word to my Senate colleagues and I am not going back on my word," he said.
Kinder's original version of the bill would allow only retired police, judges and prosecutors to carry concealed weapons. The bill was an obvious vehicle for a full "conceal-and-carry" amendment.
In order to stop a threatened filibuster on his bill earlier this year, however, Kinder had to agree not to let that happen.
Kinder said restricting the right to bear concealed weapons to a narrowly defined group is "a step towards the right of concealed carriage for all Missouri citizens. A right that is enjoyed...by citizens of more than 31 other states in the union."
In the past two years, efforts for full conceal-and-carry rights have died in the Senate after the governor and law enforcement officials voiced strong opposition to the measure.
The governor had recommended submitting the issue to the voters in order to resolve the controversy -- as the House approved. But that approach was opposed by the NRA.
The governor's press secretary said the governor's position had not changed.
"The governor has always been opposed to concealed weapons and that position has not changed. He does support putting it to a vote of the people," said Chris Sifford. "He thinks...that the people should have the opportunity to decide that issue."