MO: Legislature Overrides Nixon's(D) Veto, Restores Gun Rights

Today, September 11, the Missouri House Joined the Missouri Senate in overriding Governor Nixon's (D) veto of SB 656.    From wsvn.com:

The new regulations, which this time garnered the two-thirds majority needed to override Nixon's veto, take effect in about a month.

 Here are the primary reforms that will be enacted with SB0656:

•  Guarantees the right to posses arms in public housing
•  Forbids physical restraint or disarmament unless there is an arrest or an articulable and reasonable suspicion of criminal activity
• Mandates that  POST  determine the training standards for school protection officers
• Allows school districts to designate school protection officers
• Forbids health care professionals from entering data about firearms ownership into databases 
•  Allows for a demonstration of proficiency with either a revolver or semi-automatic handgun instead of both for the carry permit
• Uniform open carry law throughout the state with a concealed carry permit
• Changes the age of eligibility for the carry permit from 21 to 19

 The bill override comes on the heels of the overwhelming passage of Missouri Constitutional Amendment 5 on August 5th of this year.

Constitutional Amendment 5 changed the language of the Missouri Constitution to confirm that the right of every citizen to keep and bear arms is unalienable, that any restriction on the right shall be subject to strict scrutiny; and that the State of Missouri shall be obligated to uphold the rights.  SB656 becomes effective in a month.   Amendment 5 took effect on September 5th.   Amendment 5 removed the legislative power to regulate the carry of concealed arms from the Missouri Constitution.

It is too soon to determine what the synergistic effect of Amendment 5 and SB656 will be, but it seems likely that constitutional, or "permitless" carry is in Missouri's future.

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