HB 1729 -- Concealable Weapons

Co-Sponsors:  Barnitz, Jetton, Shoemyer (9), Berkowitz,
Seigfreid, Whorton, Merideth, Kreider, Hampton

This bill allows county sheriffs to issue a certificate of
qualification for a concealed carry permit to allow individuals
to carry concealed weapons on their person or in vehicles.  The
certificate of qualification allows the applicant to obtain a
driver's license or state identification card with a concealed
carry permit on the license or card.  Permits are valid
throughout the state for three years.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR OBTAINING A PERMIT

To qualify for a permit, individuals must be at least 21 years of
age, not have pled to or been found guilty of a crime that is
punishable by a prison sentence of more than one year, not be a
fugitive, not have been adjudged mentally incompetent, and comply
with training requirements.  The permit application must include
affirmations of the requirements for obtaining a permit, a
warning that individuals who make false statements will be
prosecuted for perjury, and a statement of compliance with
training requirements.

LIMITATIONS ON WHERE CONCEALED WEAPONS MAY BE CARRIED

The bill allows governmental units, businesses, and other
organizations to limit the ability to carry concealed weapons
into areas of public buildings that they lease, own, or control,
including courthouses; meeting places of governing bodies or the
General Assembly; polling places on election day; adult or
juvenile detention facilities and other correctional
institutions; airports; bars; schools; hospitals; stadiums;
amusement parks; gambling facilities; and churches.  Judges or
officers of the court who have permits may carry concealed
weapons into courthouses, and members of governing bodies who
have permits may carry concealed weapons into meetings of the
governing body.  Violating prohibitions on carrying concealed
weapons in certain locations is grounds for being denied access
to or being removed from the premises.  Frequent violators are
subject to monetary penalties and permit suspensions.

TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

Applicants for a permit must complete a firearms safety course
provided by law enforcement agencies, qualified firearms safety
instructors, or the military.  The bill specifies the required
curriculum which includes classroom work and live firing
exercises.  Certification and training required for qualified
firearms safety instructors are also specified.  Instructors must
keep their course records available for at least four years.
Instructors who provide false information about the performance
of an applicant in the training program are guilty of a class C
misdemeanor.

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

The bill requires sheriffs to fingerprint the applicant and
forward the fingerprints to the FBI for a national criminal
history record check if no disqualifying record is found at the
state level.  The sheriff must also request a criminal background
check on the applicant within three days of receipt of the
completed application.  The bill requires sheriffs to approve or
deny the application within three days of receipt of the
completed background check.  The certificate of qualification
must be issued within 45 days after submission of the completed
application.

Sheriffs are required to keep records of permit applications and
report all certificates of qualification issued to the Missouri
Uniform Law Enforcement System.  Permit application fees may not
exceed $100; renewal fees may not exceed $50.  Fees are deposited
in the county sheriff's revolving fund.

Permits of persons who have had orders of protection issued
against them will be suspended.  Permit holders are required to
notify the sheriff within specified time limits of changes in
permanent residence or if a permit is lost or destroyed.  The
bill contains an appeals process for aggrieved applicants and
allows any person to file for revocation against permit holders
if they have knowledge that the permittee is ineligible.

The bill also removes several provisions from the unlawful use of
a weapon statute.

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated October 11, 2002 at 9:02 am