Missouri Legislature Approves Bill to Undermine St. Louis’ Ability to Advance Gun Violence Prevention Measures, Transferring Control of Police Department to State Board of Police, Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action Respond

JEFFERSON CITY, MO. — The Missouri chapters of Moms Demand Action and Students Demand Action, both part of Everytown for Gun Safety’s grassroots network, issued the following statement following a vote in the House to pass HB 495. The legislation would wrest control of the city’s police force away from its democratically elected mayor in St. Louis and place it in the hands of an appointed board. This legislation would thwart any efforts by the city to improve community trust in policing or enact police accountability measures, undermining public safety in St. Louis.  

“This legislation is an overstep of the legislature in an attempt to prevent life-saving gun violence reform in the City of St. Louis,” said Sheleasa Blackwell, lead with the St. Louis chapter of Moms Demand Action, and survivor fellow with the Everytown Survivor Network. Blackwell’s son, Corey, was shot and killed in St. Louis in 2022. In Corey’s honor, Blackwell started the nonprofit foundation Corey’s Way of Caring. “Our lawmakers should be searching for ways to work alongside local officials to curb crime and find comprehensive solutions to make our communities safer — not strip their municipal rights. We urge Governor Mike Kehoe to veto this bill and respect the local government’s authority to do what’s best for their communities.” 

Missouri experiences one of the highest rates of gun deaths, gun homicide rates, and household firearm ownership. Missouri not only has none of the foundational gun violence prevention laws, but in 2007 the state repealed an 80-year-old permit-to-purchase law—leading to an increase in the state’s gun homicide rate of up to 27%. In an average year, 1,381 people die by guns in Missouri. More information about Missouri’s gun laws is available here.