Governor Nixon Signs Missouri’s Expansive
Gun-Rights Bill
On July 8th, Missouri Governor Jay Nixon signed into law an
expansion of firearm rights for Missouri gun owners. Among the provisions in
this critical bill include lowering Missouri's Right-to-Carry
age from the nation's highest, at 23 years of age, to 21.
NRA backed bill, House Bill 294, authored by state
Representative Jeanie Riddle (R-20) and sponsored in the Senate
by state Senator Brian Munzlinger (R-18), is a comprehensive
firearm reform bill that addresses a number of Right-to-Carry
issues important to Missouri’s law-abiding gun owners. Both chambers of the
Missouri General Assembly passed HB 294 by overwhelming
majorities.
HB 294 will improve Missouri gun laws by:
· Prohibiting sales taxes on firearms or ammunition
from being higher than those for sporting goods, sporting
equipment, hunting equipment, and accessories;
· Allowing residents to purchase long guns from
non-contiguous states and vice versa by removing non-penalty
merchandising practices provisions;
· Lowering the concealed carry age to 21;
· Allowing a person to possess, manufacture,
transport, repair, or sell a machine gun, short-barreled rifle
or shotgun, or firearm suppressor if he or she complies with
federal law;
· Creating the crime of fraudulent firearms purchases
if a person knowingly solicits, persuades, encourages, or
entices a licensed dealer or private seller of firearms or
ammunition to transfer a firearm or ammunition under
circumstances which the person knows would violate federal or
state laws; and
· Enabling members of the General Assembly and their
staff who possess valid concealed carry endorsements to carry a
firearm for self-defense in the Capitol.
The other major changes (NOT mentioned by the NRA in any of their press
releases) are in the CCW class.
Beginning August 28th, 2011 you will have to fire 50
rounds to practice with a semi-auto, and 50 rounds to practice
with a revolver. (Currently it is 50 rounds total). Then for the qualifying
test, you will have to fire 20 rounds with a semi-auto, and 20
rounds with a revolver. (Currently it is 20 rounds total). That will bring the total
ammunition needed for the class up to 140 rounds
minimum, instead of the current 70 minimum. The new requirement will be
140 rounds minimum. 70 revolver + 70 semi-auto.
See Tim Oliver's article on FaceBook
http://www.facebook.com/notes/tim-olivers-learn-to-carry/dale-robertstarget-masters-tried-to-invalidate-your-carry-permit/10150279669373476
