Missouri Governor Vetoes Bill that Criminalizes Federal Gun Laws

Friday, July 5, 2013, Jefferson City, Missouri

Missouri Governor Jay Nixon vetoed the bill that would have made it a state crime to enforce federal gun laws. The bill was passed earlier this year by the Missouri House and Senate amidst controversy regarding gun owners rights vs. safety. In addition to nullifying federal gun laws, the bill would have allowed for open carrying of concealed weapons less than 16 inches long, school teachers and administrators to have concealed-gun permits and to carry guns on school property as “school protection officers,” and would lower the legal age for concealed-carry permits from 21 to 19 years of age.

This bill, had it been allowed to stand, would have made Missouri one of the most “gun-friendly” states in the nation and would have resulted in “extreme consequences.” Some churches had already been put in a position of having to post that no firearms were allowed. Large crowds, such as at sports events, would have been caught between crowd safety and open-carry allowances. County fairs and rural newspapers that announce the names of residents who hunt in turkey and deer season would have been breaking the law according to the now-vetoed bill. One of the items was to criminalize posting names and photos of any gun owners.

Cynthia Collins
Correspondent