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 - Proposition B may be dead, but gun control can suffer bullet holes from the Missouri House of Representatives.
An amendment that would require parents to be responsible for keeping guns away from children was overwhelmingly defeated by a margin of 19-112.
"This ammendment is to protect children and to serve as a reminder for responsible gun ownership," said Vicky Riback Wilson, D-Columbia. She sponsored the amendment. "Nothing will happen to anyone unless a child is shot or killed in the home."
The amendment if made into the law would require a investigators to see that gun owners tried to keep guns away from children in the home. The amendment would have required gun dealers to hang a sign that reminds gun owners to keep guns out of a child's access.
"Nothing is more important than protecting our children," Wilson said. "If we can put a warning on a toothpaste tube, we can expect gun owners to keep their guns out of the hands of children."
Spoken opposition came from representatives who were concerned about the ammendment's effect on hunters and members wanting a better definintion of a "loaded firearm."
"I do not feel we can legislate good judgment," Mark Hampton, D-Summersville, said. "This amendment is not aimed at preventing. It's only operating after someone is injured or killed."
Still promising additional debate is an ammendment withdrawn to be rewritten that would allow prosecuting attorneys to carry concealed handguns.
The amendments were added to a 127-page crime bill that makes technical changes in existing criminal law.
Among those getting on the bill Monday was an amendment that would give protection of execution to the mentally retarded, and ammendment requiring those under 21 years of age to wear a helmet while operating a motorcycle and an amendment permitting capital punishment only from a jury trial.