HB 136 -- Concealable Weapons

Co-Sponsors:  Crawford, Moore, Cooper (120), Dougherty, Ward,
Jetton, Whorton

This bill allows county sheriffs to issue permits to individuals
to carry concealed weapons.  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, clear a
federal background check, 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, including classroom work, live firing exercises, and
examinations.  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 approve or deny a permit
application within 30 days of receipt.  The permit must be issued
within seven days after approval.  Sheriffs are required to keep
records of permit applications and report all permits issued to
the Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement System.  Permit application
fees may not exceed $50; renewal fees may not exceed $10.  Fees
are deposited in the county sheriff's revolving fund.

Alteration or transfer of a permit is a class A misdemeanor.
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 July 25, 2003 at 10:10 am