March 7, 2003 Legislative Report

MISSOURI HOUSE PASSES
LICENSE-TO-CARRY BILL

Now On to the Senate!!!

Phone calls and faxes from GCLA´s Grass-Roots Action Network helped us successfully achieve the second step to passing License-to-Carry [LTC] reform for Missouri this year.

On Tuesday evening, March 4^th, during our annual Gun Rights Rally, the full Missouri House took up and debates House Substitute for House Committee Substitute for HB349 [HS HCS HB349].

A total of 19 amendments were debated. Some were attempts to kill the bill. Others were attempts by those friendly to LTC reform to correct technical errors discovered in the bill.

ALL negative amendments were DEFEATED. All positive amendments were PASSED.

A support team was in place to assist the bill´s sponsor, Rep. Larry Crawford, on proposed amendments. This support crew consisted of: Mary Anne Bradfield from the NRA-ILA, Greg Jeffery on behalf of Gateway Civil Liberties Alliance [GCLA], Missourians for Personal Safety [MPS] and Western Missouri Shooters Alliance [WMSA], Whit O´Daniel from NRA-ILA, Michael Meyer [GCLA] and Chad Cook [GCLA].

By the end of the day, HS HCS HB349 was successfully "perfected."

On Thursday, March 6^th, one last perfecting amendment to correct a few more technical problems found in HS HCS HB349 was passed. Then the full debate on final passage occurred.

The vote was finally taken and HS HCS HB349 PASSED the Missouri House with a

"VETO-PROOF" margin of 111 "Yes", 42 "No" and 10 Absent.

ADDITIONAL ACTION IN MISSOURI SENATE

Also on Tuesday, March 4^th, the Missouri Senate committee on "Pensions and General Law" APPROVED the senate version of License-to-Carry [LTC] reform, Senate Committee Substitute for Senate Bill 83 [SCS SB83], sponsored by Senator Cauthorn. The vote was 5 in favor and 3 opposed. SCS SB83 now goes to the full Senate to await its turn for debate and possible passage.

We appreciate your help and hope you will join us in our effort to make License-to-Carry reform a reality for Missouri. Please take the time to support these fine organizations that are working hard on your behalf.