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Missouri Moms Condemn Legislature’s Passage of Dangerous Guns-in-Schools Bill, Urge Governor Nixon to Veto

5.16.2014

The Missouri chapter of Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America today condemned the state legislature’s passage of dangerous guns-in-schools legislation and urged Governor Jay Nixon to veto the bill. The bill, SB 656, would endanger Missouri children and families by forcing cities to allow teenagers to carry loaded firearms in public, allowing school districts to arm teachers, and making it impossible for parents to find out if someone is carrying a concealed firearm in their children’s classrooms.

“Reasonable people have differing opinions when it comes to guns— but I think all Missourians can agree that as parents, we have the right to know if there is going to be a gun in our kid’s classrooms,” said Melissa Brooks of the Missouri chapter of Moms Demand Action. “Missouri moms are deeply disappointed in the legislature’s passage of this dangerous bill, and we urge Governor Nixon to stand with parents across the state by vetoing it.”

Provisions of SB 656, the guns-in-schools legislation, are below:

  • Would force every city in the state to allow the open carry of loaded firearms in public, including by teenagers aged 19 and older, regardless of whether they have already passed their own local public safety ordinances barring the practice.
  • Would allow school districts to arm elementary and secondary school teachers. This would be funded by school districts – but parents and taxpayers would not be entitled to know whether there are guns in their children’s classrooms.
  • Would lower the concealed carry age from 21 to 19 – forcing densely populated cities to allow teenagers to carry loaded weapons in public, both openly and concealed.

Today’s passage of the guns-in-schools bill comes in the last hours of a legislative session in which lawmakers have proposed a series of dangerous measures – including a nullification bill that would allow domestic abusers to sue police officers for enforcing federal gun laws. Versions of this nullification bill were approved by both the House and the Senate, but the two chambers have yet to agree on final language.  The 2014 legislative session ends Friday, May 16th at 6:00 PM.