May 5, 2003 Legislative Report
BREAKING NEWS! The Missouri House has brought up and debated the Senate approved SS HS HCS HB349. House opponents were busy performing their own form of filibuster when at approximately 4:20 pm, the House moved the "previous question." The vote to end debate and do the final vote was passed by a vote of 86 to 57. The House then moved to adopt SS HS HCS HB349 and close further amendment attempts which motion passed by a vote of 105 to 36. The House then moved to 3rd read and finally pass. The House voted to send the Senate approved version of SS HS HCS HB349 to Governor Bob Holdenīs desk by a vote of 105 "yes" to 40 "no" and 1 "present". The bill will now go to the desk of Governor Bob Holden where he can do one of three things: - Sign it [we would greatly appreciate that]; or
- Leave it alone and allow it to become law without any action [also acceptable to us]; or
- Veto it.
If he veto's the measure, the legislature will have one more shot at it during the veto override session in September. Be aware that tremendous pressure is being applied to Governor Holden from both sides of this debate. He NEEDS to hear from YOU. IF you have not contacted Governor Holdenīs office yet, please do so today. Call Governor Holdenīs office and politely inform his staff person that you support License-to-Carry reform and hope he will consider allowing HS HCS HB349 to become the law for Missouri. You can call the Governorīs office at 573-751-3222 or fax at 573-751-1495. Politely inform the staff person that so far this year, Colorado, New Mexico and Minnesota also passed LTC reform and became the seventeenth, eighteenth and nineteenth states to debate AND PASS LTC reform since Missouri started talking about it in 1991. It is now up to Governor Bob Holden if Missouri will move with the enlightened thirty-four total states or remain one of six that totally deny their honest citizens the ability to legally defend themselves outside the home. License-to-Carry or LTC is quite simply about allowing honest citizens to apply for permission of their government to protect themselves while outside the home. It is really that simple. LTC is a permission system. You canīt carry unless you apply for permission; pass the requirements; AND get APPROVAL. Right now we all know [including the Governor] that the violent criminals prowling Missouriīs streets to not seek our approval or permission before they attack our fellow citizens. Who will the Governor side with ulimately on this issue when he casts his vote? The honest citizens of this state? Or will he vote to keep Missouriīs criminals safe? We will see. It is now up to you. Call and write and fax the Governor and ask him to allow SS HS HCS HB349 to become Missouri law. A REMINDER: Whenever you deal with an elected official, or their staff, ALWAYS BE POLITE, even if they are not. ALWAYS be brief and thank them for their time. Follow up with a nice handwritten letter too. ALWAYS be POLITE... even if his staff is not. Greg Jeffery
Legislative Chairman
Gateway Civil Liberties Alliance
Legislative Coordinator
Missourians for Personal Safety
Part-time Designated Spokesman
Western Missouri Shooters Alliance |
