While other states (most recently, Oregon and New Jersey) are posturing against gun rights, yesterday (March 28, 2018) the Missouri House Rules Committee passed House Bill 1936 which expands the protections of the Second Amendment to locations and areas where you can carry concealed in its state.
The Bill’s sponsor, Republican Jered Taylor, commented that this would now allow citizens to carry a concealed weapon, with or without a permit, into the following 10 locations: churches, amusement parks, stadiums, hospitals, casinos, bars, child care facilities, polling locations, private schools, local government buildings and state government buildings. These locations were previously considered gun-free zones.
The Bill also mandates that state, local jurisdictions, and public institutions of higher learning cannot impose any policies or contractual requirements that would prohibit employees or students from the carrying of concealed firearms. As such, the Bill allows for full reciprocity and for individuals with concealed carry weapons (CCW) permits to carry into college campuses.
In opposition to the Bill, State Rep. Michael Butler (D) voted against the measure, along with other Democrats on the Legislative Rules Committee. Despite the facts and testimony by supporters of the Bill that gun-free zones just create opportunities for shooters, Butler stated “[t]his is their solution to the Parkland shooting, and it’s not going to work,” … “They believe when people have guns, they won’t get shot.”
According to the Bill Summary, proponents of the Bill argued that “gun free zones just create opportunities for shooters. Establishing gun free zones has not ended mass shooting. Law enforcement can’t be everywhere; they can’t stop all crimes in progress. People need to be able to defend themselves.” Continuing, supporters of the Bill noted, “Numerous examples [exist] of instances where a shooting could have been stopped or prevented if bystanders or victims had the opportunity to carry a weapon.”
Finally, a state with some educated politicians. Maybe some others will follow suit.
Thank you Missouri for standing firm for the 2nd Ammendment and using “common sense” in dealing with the issue of “gun free” zones. If a potential shooter knew that his/her ability to carry out a mass shooting were diminished to maybe one or two casualties before a law abiding citizen would neutralize their threat with a weapon, that individual would probably not entertain the idea of creating a mass shooting. Only the severely mentally deficient individual would even attempt to carry out such a hideous action.
I would like for Tennessee to do the same. I feel that the intestinal fortitude is lacking on the part of the “Volunteer State’s” lawmakers.
Tennessee needs to use a little “common sense” also, as do all states. So, in the words of Mack Truck, a former radio personality in Tennessee, “That’s my opinion, it oughta be yours”.