HB 120 -- Concealable Weapons

Co-Sponsors:  Barnitz, Ransdall, Hampton, Kuessner, Townley,
Ward, Sager

This bill allows county sheriffs to issue certificates of
qualification for a concealed carry endorsement to allow
individuals to carry concealed firearms on their person or in
vehicles.  A certificate of qualification will allow the
applicant to obtain a driver's or nondriver's license with a
concealed carry endorsement on the license.  A concealed carry
endorsement is valid throughout the state for three years.

QUALIFICATIONS FOR OBTAINING A CONCEALED CARRY ENDORSEMENT

To qualify for a concealed carry endorsement, 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 at the time of application or for five years prior to
application, not have been released or discharged from a mental
health facility less than five years prior to application, and
comply with training requirements.  The application must include
affirmations of the requirements for obtaining a certificate of
qualification for a concealed carry endorsement, 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 FIREARMS MAY BE CARRIED

The bill allows governmental units, businesses, and other
organizations to limit the ability to carry concealed firearms
into areas of public buildings that they lease, own, or control,
including courthouses; meeting places of governing bodies or the
General Assembly; within 25 feet of 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 endorsements may carry
concealed firearms into courthouses, and members of governing
bodies who have endorsements may carry concealed firearms into
meetings of the governing body.  Violating prohibitions on
carrying concealed firearms in certain locations is grounds for
being denied access to or being removed from the premises.
Frequent violators are subject to monetary penalties and
endorsement suspensions.

TRAINING REQUIREMENTS

Applicants for a concealed carry endorsement 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 applicants 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 an
application within three days of receipt of the completed
background check.  If the criminal background check has not been
received within 45 days, the sheriff may provisionally approve
the application.  The provisional approval must be withdrawn upon
the receipt of a background check that results in a disqualifying
record.

Sheriffs are required to keep records of applications and report
all certificates of qualification issued to the Missouri Uniform
Law Enforcement System.  Application fees may not exceed $100;
renewal fees may not exceed $50.  Fees are deposited in the
county sheriff's revolving fund.  If moneys collected and
deposited into the fund are not totally expended annually, the
balance will be used to produce and distribute public service
announcements promoting the safe storage of firearms in the
presence of children.

Concealed carry endorsements of persons who have had orders of
protection issued against them will be suspended or revoked.
Endorsement holders are required to notify the sheriff within
specified time limits of changes in permanent residence or if a
driver's license or nondriver's license with a concealed carry
endorsement is lost or destroyed.  The bill contains an appeals
process for aggrieved applicants and allows persons to file for
revocation against endorsement holders if they have knowledge
that the endorsement holder is ineligible.

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

Missouri House of Representatives
Last Updated July 25, 2003 at 10:10 am